1047/A Weak Apprentice

A Weak Apprentice
Date of Scene:	28 November 2014
Location:	Ivalice
Synopsis:	Faruja asks Toph to train a distinctly weak Geomancer. But is there more going on?
Cast of Characters:	20, 152

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Faruja (152) has posed:
~~ Mullonde, Training Grounds ~~

Faruja Senra sits cross legged on an observation platform, teacup in one hand, and quill-slash-parchment before him. Today, he's called in his most heathenous Acolyte Toph Beifong for some help with a problem.

That problem happens to be a scrawny looking teenage girl with short blonde hair, and frightened looking blue eyes. Dressed in plain brown robes, and lightly clutching a heavy steel rod, those robes seem to all but swallow her. The round large-lensed glasses likely don't help matters. The young woman is absolutely shaking in terror.

Faruja sighs. "Lady Izuru. Doth not embarrass the Church by acting a craven!" He chides. The young woman straightens. Another shake of the head, and Faruja feels his heart shinking.

Everything he's tried hasn't worked in instilling some courage into the woman. And she needs it.

So, he awaits for the arrival of one Toph Beifong, free hand rubbing his cross. God help them all if she can't do it.

The training grounds themselves are set up with large rocks of all kinds, and smaller ones sprinkled about. There's even stone bridges made at one point. A playground for geomancers today, this place!

"Be respectful to thine new tutor, Izuru. Ye must succeed, mine dear." Comes the rat, voice oddly gentle. The young woman looks a little taken aback, then slowly nods.

"Y...yes M'Lord Inquisitor..." She says timidly.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Barely getting home from spending the holidays with her new family, Toph was a bit surprised to learn that she was needed in Mullonde. But since Faruja himself had asked for this favour, the girl had no reason to decline. After all, he doesn't seem to ask her for help unless it is necessary, and who knows? As long as it's not a meeting, it might even be fun.

    The teenage girl who arrives might as well be the complete opposite of the terrified novice geomancer. The new clothes fit her perfectly, pants and tunica going well together in hues of green and yellow. And she is absolutely not shaking in terror. Toph Beifong walks as if she owns the place, completely at ease. Why look, she's even picking her nose a bit.

    And she doesn't pull out the pinkie finger when she greets the two, with a focus on Faruja since she doesn't know the quivering girl. "Heya Twitchy, whassup?" She can't help but be curious about all the rocks though. The whole area does seem nice, that's for sure.

Faruja (152) has posed:
The new clothes are met with a slight grin from Faruja. "They suit ye, Toph. Welcome." Though he tries to carry his usual warm welcomes, there's an undertone of worry. Izuru, for her part, turns about to Toph.

"Ummm..." A glance from Faruja, and Izuru dips into a rapid bow, only her staff keeping her from tumbling to the ground!

"God's grace go with you, Dame Beifong! Thank you for deigning to teach this unworthy soul!" She doesn't even look Toph in the eyes. Faruja rubs his head.

"...Toph, meet Novice Izuru, recently promoted from laywoman. As ye can see, while polite, she is not exactly filled with courage." There's a glare at the young woman from the rat. Izuru seems to shrink away from him, despite the distance.

"Nor confidence. And those art things ye hath in abudance. Pass them on to her. I cannot tell ye the import of her learning such." His voice here grows serious.

"And any techniques in manipulating earth ye might be able to pass on shall be most helpful. Izuru! Doth not fail me, nor thineself. Ye hath come this far. I hath seen enough failures of our calling. Learn well."

Izuru barely manages to look up, shaking harder, naked terror in her trembling form.

"I...I'll try, M'Lord." Then, she turns expectantly to Toph.

"I am in your hands, my Lady."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "Eh, Pepper helped me pick them out," the blind girl says with a shrug. Though she arches an eyebrow when Izuru bows to her... and doesn't exactly scream of solid posture. But it's clear that she is the reason why Faruja asked her her, even before he begins explaining. Man, he's rough on her, isn't he? At least Faruja is correct that Toph herself is filled with courage and confidence, she is brimming over with it. The request makes Toph snort slightly, and she steps forward, wiping her hand on her tunica. Good thing Pepper isn't here to see it, huh?

    If it wasn't for the fact that Toph is blind, it might seem like she's staring at the other girl. Instead several seconds pass as she stands there... before she raises her voice, talking loudly as if she was addressing a whole group of people. "Stand up straight! And tell me your name, lily liver!" Toph demands, her expression stern. And once the girl has managed to utter her name, Toph points a finger in her direction. "You stand before the greatest earthbender of all time, Toph Beifong! I know all there is to know about earth and how to bend it to my will. You know what is the most important thing to know about handling earth, hmm?"

    Perhaps Faruja had the best intentions of trying to get this quivering girl to learn how to handle earth the way Toph herself does it... but it seems he might have done so the wrong way.

Faruja (152) has posed:
Faruja makes several signs of the cross. So much as he might respect Toph, he has no idea whether this will truly work! All he can do is try to look stern, and not let his nervousness show. The Earthbender, however, may well pick up his elevated heart rate.

Izuru, for her part, looks everywhere except Toph. The blonde's cowl is kept low, and she seems to find that rock over there fascinating. Then, she's being yelled at. The woman flops onto her behind, and her staff goes scattering.

She scrambles to pick it up, crawling over, and heaving herself up. She all but tugs on that staff to do so. Even so, she's still not entirely straight.

"Y...yes M'lady! Novice Izuru Nachika!"

She blinks, however, and manages to perk up just slightly.

"..Uhm. Faith in the Lord that you move as He bids, and that his Divine Creation moves with you?" Blink blink. Now, at least, she trembles a little less.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    When the girl flops onto her butt, Toph narrows her eyes, standing firm and with her hands resting on her hips. Yes, she has enough to fix here. Every movement Izuru makes tells Toph just what the girl is like, and she waits impatiently for the novice to get back on her unsteady feet. When her new student replies to the question, Toph actually lets her finish before she frowns and points in Faruja's direction.

    "I don't care what Twitchy or the others have told you, but they are WRONG!" Toph states firmly. "The most important thing when it comes to earthbending is to know that earth is stubborn! And if you want to make it bend to your will and obey you, you need to be even more stubborn than it is! Nothing besides your will can make the earth move! Forget about faith, lords and all the other stuff those fuddy duddies babble on and on about! It's about YOU," Toph points at Izuru next, then down to the earth, "and the EARTH."

    With that Toph raises one foot and slams her heel into the ground, causing the earth underneath Izuru to split, and if she isn't steady she will most likely stumble. But this is the first lesson.

Faruja (152) has posed:
Faruja lives up to his nickname at the sudden, violent twitch of his brow and lashing tail. Faruja lifts a leg, and slams it down on a rock!

"Oh perish the bloody thou...SQUEAK!" Said rock gives way, and he lands right on his face. Sigh.

Izuru's eyes go wide as saucers beneath those glasses, and she looks utterly stunned. And when the earth splits? She stumbles and falls! She only stops her fall by a frantic series of hand movements, and she rather roughly hits a small outcropping of rock that bursts upwards. Right into the chest. Oomph!

Wind thoroughly knocked out of her by her own efforts, when she can breathe, there are tears in her eyes.

"H...how!? I can only do it when I"m like this..." She mutters. There's some power in that scrawny girl, but it seems her lack of confidence certainly hurts her badly!

"I'm useless. I shouldn't have been given the gift."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Let Faruja be annoyed, he's not the expert on earth and dirt around here! For now Toph ignores him and focuses on Izuru, frowning when she stumbles. But then she shows some promise... and Toph narrows her eyes as she steps forward. Not so elegant, but it's something, at least.

    "That's your problem right there! You need to stop thinking like that. You can do it, and you will do it! Useless? You're useless all right, but that's because you think you are!" Toph snorts. "I was told I was weak, fragile and helpless. Because people focus on stuff that doesn't matter," the blind girl continues, then assumes a wide legged stance. "Okay! First things first... get into your horse stance!" Time to see what she can do!

Faruja (152) has posed:
Faruja is soon on his feet, barely managing to keep a scowl off of his muzzle. It does, however, fade back into that neutral look rather suddenly. Izuru hardly seems to notice, but there's a sudden presence beside the rat-man. Toph's senses would no doubt be able to pick up the sillhouette of a distinctly large, heavy man in thick robes.

Any more sighted and less magical observers, would hardly notice a thing, however.

Izuru, for her part, at least /listens/. She straightens slightly. "You..." She's quiet for a moment. "You really think I can?" Not many people have told her such. She glances over to Faruja. The rat smirks briefly.

Izuru closes her eyes, then opens them. The scrawny girl looks oddly at Toph at first, but then gets the idea. She places herself in a somewhat study Horse stance. She may well have some martial arts experience from her homeland!

"Like this? Geomancy can be..." A squint from the rat. She suddenly shuts up.

"Stupid question." She mutters. Stance! Her scrawny legs can barely hold her weight, even if the form is technically correct. Indeed, she may seem to be recovering from malnourishment.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    The sudden presence behind Faruja doesn't escape Toph's attention, and the blind girl frowns a bit. But unless he does something, she won't worry. For now her focus is on Izuru. After all, Toph takes teaching seriously.

    "You can if you want to," Toph states firmly. "You are able to manipulate earth, and the only one who determines how good you will get is yourself." When the girl shifts her feet further apart and sinks into a wide legged stance, Toph frowns just slightly. "LOWER! Get your balance further down to the ground! The key is your stance, and if you fall over, if you can't uphold a proper balance, then that will be used against you!"

    Also, Toph points a dirty finger at Faruja. "You frown all you want, Twitchy... but distract my student and you will be evicted from the lesson area." Her voice is serious, as is her expression. Toph means business.

    And she turns her focus back to Izuru. "People think that you need muscles to be strong. I call that utter crud. I don't have big muscles, and I can kick their sorry asses even on my worst day."

Faruja (152) has posed:
The Large Guy stands mostly still. Faruja seems nervous, and /definitely/ concerned by now. The large one just seems dour, and judgemental if one can judge by a heartbeat.

With an 'eep' that rivals the girlist of ten year olds, Izuru uses all of what little strength she has! Beeeend. She barely manages to go lower, now at least somewhat successful. With a year's practice, she might actually master this.

Faruja tenses visibly, and audibly, his cane very near to cracking as he squeezes the head. But he manages silence. Mostly. He /sounds/ like a simmering, trapped angry rat.

"So...rrrmph...what do you need? Faith? C...confidence?" She has one of those two things, at least.

It's taking some effort, but with every passing moment, she seems to actually quiver less in effort. There's some vague form of stubborn in there somewhere, just waiting to get out. Her hands, as she gets in the stance, forms a small prayer-sign. That only seems to make it easier. Mind over matter may well work best with this one!

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    What is Faruja so damn twitchy about? Toph frowns slightly as she studies the new arrival, listening even as she nods at Izuru. Good, so the girl isn't completely hopeless.

    "What you need isn't faith. Faith isn't going to move a rock. There's not a higher power that's going to shift the earth to protect you. YOU are. Confidence, guts, attitude... call it what you will," Toph snorts. Yes, she has no problem with saying things as they are. "Now..." Toph steps forward and enters a stance where she holds her arms up in a defensive stance, palms facing inwards. Faruja might have seen the earthbender assume that stance many times. A stance that invites the opponent to attack.

    "Try your very best to hit me."

    There's no worry, no doubt as the young teenager stands there, listening and waiting. "Don't hold back. Give it all you got."

Faruja (152) has posed:
Mega-twitchy. One can almost see Faruja's whiskers vibrate.

"I can...yes. I can do this. I can..." Blink. Izuru just stares a moment, then dumbly nods. Nodnod. It takes her a second to actually /do/ it.

Faruja, up above, very nearly loses all hope.

Thankfully, Izuru gets to it, and makes a hand motion. A simple thrust. The ground rumbles, and a decidedly pointy bit of earth rockets out of the ground after much trembling. Aimed right for Toph's stomach.

That, at least, wins her a smirk from Faruja. Hope, ye spring eternal. Power she might not have, but plenty of precision and speed in her 'bending'.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    She is slow... but at least she doesn't hesitate. If the girl hadn't gone all out, then surely it would have earned a frown from the earthbender. Instead she swings her right arm down, shattering the earth into rubble and dust as she finishes the motion and lashes out towards Izuru, causing the rubble and dust to shoot back at her. "AGAIN!" she demands firmly.

Faruja (152) has posed:
Izuru closes her eyes, and gets dust absolutely /everywhere/. Those robes are going to need to be washed. Ignoring the little bits of rock surely getting into her underthings, Izuru tries it again. This time, it's both hands. It'd take an expert Earthbender (or time mage) to notice the fraction of a section's difference in her motions, but that spike of earth comes flying that much more swiftly. A potential hamstring. These Church-folk are /jerks/, even when they're timid.

Faruja looks increasingly pleased, but soon forces a mask of stern-ness after a quick glance to his invisible compatriot.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    If you don't get dirty from earthbending, then you aren't doing it right.

    Well, that's a pleasant surprise. The girl has guts even if she tries to hide it! And she seems like a fast learner too. Toph actually grins slightly as she steps forward to meet the spike of earth that she easily feels coming, and she kicks into the earth with the forward step, causing the spike to shoot upwards instead, where it is shattered as Toph punches through it. "A true earthbender faces things head on! If you don't have the bravery to do that, then you might as well go play in a sandbox!" Toph declares.

    "Do you get the most important thing about shaping the earth, Izuru?" she demands next, her eyes narrowing slightly. Something about that guy annoys her...

Faruja (152) has posed:
Izuru, here, watches as a girl utterly crushes her best attempts at geomancy. Instead of depressed or down, she looks amazed. She stands up just a little taller here. Why, if a mere girl can do that...surely she can! Some small measure of that nervous demeanor fades as Izuru's heartbeat slows a smidge.

"Head on...like...like a knight? A Templar?" There's open awe in her voice, and a little hesitation.

"Mmm...uhh...precision and skill? Using just enough mana to properly enact Go..I,erm, your own will into the earth without overtaxing yourself?"

The Large Man makes the slightest of audible 'hmph's'. The spell around him dissipates. Izuru, for the moment, doesn't notice.

Toph's ears would no doubt pick up the whisper.

'A 'eathen teachin' a runt like 'attun ain't gonna come to nothin', 'Inquisitor'. Give it up. Good as dead.'

It might do something to explain Twitchy's twitchiness, as his heartbeat and swishing tail takes up that gait where he's just about to incinerate someone. Miraculously, Faruja doesn't kill the other man on the spot.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Toph shakes her head slightly. "Not like a knight. Or a templar. Like an earthbender. A person who lives with the earth and understands it better than others around them. Earthbending isn't just a way to fight. It's a way of /life/. You have been born with the ability to shift the earth, it's part of you, and that's why you should develop it. If you don't... you are wasting a gift."

    The next comment though, that makes Toph nod. "There's no need to use a large boulder to crack a small nut, right?"

    Of course Toph hears the whisper, and that makes her expression harden before she points in the man's direction. "If you have something to say about me, then you can at least stop hiding and come and tell it to my /face/!" Oh, she doesn't care about being called a heathen. And she doesn't need confirmation from others to know that she is the best earthbending teacher there is. If people want to learn how to bend earth, she is the best. If they can't handle it, then they wouldn't make good earthbenders to begin with.

    "Who is the crawling coward who thinks his opinion matters on this matter, Twitchy?" she asks, all without turning away from Izuru.

Faruja (152) has posed:
By now, Izuru is slightly wide-eyed. Yes, that's a look of pure awe. 'Greatest Earthbender'. She looks back to Faruja, hope in her eyes, only to freeze. She might be nervous in Faruja's presence, but the man there has her almost giving way to fear.

Almost. She tries to steel herself, but no amount of bravery will stop that shaking that's come upon her.

"I...yes. A gift. Even Inquisitor Senra said that..." She says, slightly more confidently in between body-shaking amounts of quivers of mortal dread.

A nod. "...All thinks in their place, with proper pressure. That's what Mother always said, anyway."

And then, the Large Man looks to Toph. "....Ehhh!?" Comes his surprised outburst.

Faruja goes utterly still, heart quite literally missing a beat. Then, he laughs the laugh of someone letting out quite a bit of tension and nervousness. When he finally finishes?

He reaches back, and swats the massive man on the back in a psuedo-friendly manner. If it weren't that the grip might have well held a knife, otherwise.

"Oh ye of little faith! Acolyte Beifong, allow me to introduce the playwright of this grave little production we art all enveloped within! Senior Inquisitor Gramm, one of mine direct superior...as far as these things go, I shan't bore you with Inquisitorial rank and politics." She might not see it, but Faruja gives Toph a look that may as well advertise a hug. Oh yes, you're not escaping his thanks, Missie!

"BAH! Little 'eathen has a mouth! Should remove her tongue and tee..." Starts the fat Inquisitor.

Faruja smiles winningly.

"Now, now! Politics, 'honored' Ser!" The fat man seems to utterly miss Faruja's blatant sarcasm.

Hmmmph! The man thumps his muscle-fatty belly. It likely is earth-viewed as disgustingly as it sounds.

"I'm Inquisitor Gramm, like the rodent said! And it matters because that little /failure/ of a Summoner isn't worth keeping alive. Only because of my...and God's...grace is she still alive!" Puffs out the fat man. Faruja tries to not let his scowl show.

The fat man grins.

"...But no matter. You /really/ think this child can teach her strength enough? Fine. Pair of ya walk back here alive? I'll eat my own words. Abyss, I'll make the weakling's record niiiice and clean /and/ a proper house. Or a pair of caskets, because that's what you two are gonna need!" the fat Inquisitor gives out a belly laugh that resounds (annoyingly) throughout the entire area.

Faruja looks to first Izuru, then Toph apologetically.

"...Let us merely say that this training is a touch more important than ye may realize, Toph."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    It's clear that the people fear this guy, whoever he is. But it should be clear to them that Toph is not afraid of nervous at all. The surprised outburst earns a slight smirk from Toph who steps forward, standing between Izuru and the man. Senior Inquisitor Gramm? Oh man, he's a church guy. Should have known...

    "Good. Because I have little interest in politics. Nor ranks," Toph states firmly. As for the suggestion that Gramm makes? "Oh, you could try. Bigger guys than you have threatened me... 'Ser'." It's clear that the term is not used with respect. No, Toph has no respect for people like that. Especially when he has no respect for her in the first place. The earthbender listens, and then she gets a clearer picture. "Okay, I think this might be difficult for you, but shut your yap and /listen/. I am Toph Beifong, the greatest earthbender of all time. I can teach anybody who has the ability to shape the earth. I'll make you eat more than your words. Heh, you wouldn't be the first man that have begged me for mercy," she snorts and waves Gramm off with a hand, then she turns to Izuru with a wide grin on her face. "Man, you guys really have big bugs around here, don't you?" she asks, then she kicks the ground... and a life size statue that oddly enough resembles the senior inquisitor rises from the earth. "Let's move on. Sure, you can use your hands and legs to fight, but don't forget... you always have to use YOUR HEAD!"

    With that Toph draws her head back... and slams it into the belly of the statue, which shatters into dust and tiny pebbles. Why, Toph doesn't even bother wiping off the dust and debris out of her hair, her expression determined. "There are always people who claim that others aren't worth keeping alive. And it's usually the guys who have no real strength of their own. Unlike people who us who have more strength in our little pinkie," Toph explains as she holds up her hand so Izuru can see.

Faruja (152) has posed:
There is an utter look of pure, nearly sinful pride on Faruja's face as he looks to Toph. Gramm makes a sound, as if to speak, and then there's a strategic elbow to the gut courtesy of the junior Inquisitor.

"Oh, what /pride/ doth youth hath this day, mmm, Inquisitor? Why, I do believe that was a /CHALLENGE/! To thine very honor at that." Izuru, for her part, looks mortified. That horse stance might be a bit difficult to come out of now. Being stuck by a well-meaning zealous psychopath and a not-well-meaning zealous psychopath isn't a good place to be.

Faruja's prodding only exacerbate's Toph's already horrible words.

"BUG!? FAH! YOU'RE THE BUG YOU LITTLE CRETIN! Alright. Alright! Fine! Have your fun, play around in the dirt! We'll see if 'dirt' shall save you when that damn bird.."

The glare Faruja gives leaves little to the imagination of the insult that Gramm is teetering on. Nor does the half-drawn Blaze Gun. Anger may as well radiate off of the rat.

Gramm barely reigns in hubris and fat alike.

"We'll see, little 'eathen. Do what you want, the three of ya!" Then, he simply dissappears.

In typical Faruja fashion, the nearest unfortunate wooden pole receives enough gauntlet-bearing clawings to wobble slightly in pure frustration. Give him a few. He does not like that man.

And when that statue smashes? Inquisitor Gramm's 'graaah' of indignation can be heard throughout Mullonde. Faruja stops his wood-mauling, and somehow seems utterly pleased. OH yes, he chose well, this acolyte.

Izuru looks from Faruja, to Toph. She reaches out, own pinkie extended. She clasps.

"U...uhh. Pinkie promise? Do you really think I'm worth...living? That I won't fail?"

A glance over. Faruja simply smiles, and nods.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Oh, the lovely sound of fuddy duddies getting their panties in a twist. She lives for that sound.

    "Oh, I'm larger than my size. And I always have fun with what I do, which is why I'm so good at it."

    What does he mean, 'damn bird'?

    When he disappears it doesn't seem like Toph registers it, then again... her sight is different. And she can't help but point in Gramm's direction when he roars out. "What's the matter? Your pride gets shattered as easily as the earth, mister fuzzy wuzzy?"

    When Izuru seems to think they are doing a pinkie promise though, she frowns and reaches out to push at Izuru's face. "Make promises to yourself, those are the promises that matter the most. Are you really going to be so spineless that you will let others dictate whether you should live? Live, if only to spite them!" Because it pisses them off so much. For that matter. "And also, just to make this clear: we aren't here to bond. We are here to /work/. Horse stance!" Toph states firmly as she herself enters a combat stance.

Faruja (152) has posed:
"Awww, stuff it ya little cretin!" Yells back a voice. For once, Faruja feels better about his own tendencies.

Shove! Thud! Poor Izuru is right on her bum. She sits there a moment.

"I...yeah. Yeah! I'm going to live, and no one's going to stop me." Comes the girl, with the beginnings of what may just be confidence.

Faruja smiles, finally filled with some measure of hope as he leaves the pair to it.

"Clean up after ye art done."

As for Izuru?

"Y...yes!" HORSE STANCE! Wobble wobble!