[PRP] Practice makes better

[TawnyAngel]

"Alright that's a wrap, see you all next week."

As the class started to disperse Aulus headed over to the bench where he'd left his stuff and sat down. It had been a pretty good class, some good progress by a couple of the regulars who were obviously practicing outside of lesson time. As he retrieved his water bottle from his bag and pulled up the top with his teeth Aulus tried to remember how long he'd been running this class now, it felt like forever and it was strange to remember how nervous he'd been at first. A bit of time and practice did wonders for all sorts of things including confidence he supposed and it was the sort of thing you didn't really notice changing, just realised looking back that it was different now to how it had been.

A soft "Saww," beside him announced the arrival of Rose, who had just finished supervising the last few students in putting away the mats. Aulus nodded acknowledgement to the pokemon and passed over the water, which was gratefully received.  

[Venti Mico]

Classes with Aulus were still by far the most enjoyable part of Aija's week. The training in the Intelligence department was lead by a strict and intense Agent; Aija hadn't even been able to get into the Agent's good graces. Aija admired her superior's seriousness... but, she still liked Aulus more. He was serious and could get intense. But he was still more fun. And his lessons weren't graded.

After helping picked up the room, Aija fell back on her behind with her water bottle, taking a moment to catch her breath before she rocked back up onto her feet and headed for Rose and Aulus.

"Good lesson today, sir," she greeted, wiping the sweat from her forehead. She gave him a grin, then one to Rose as well. "When will you start giving your own lessons, hm?" She teased, leaning in to nudge Rose's arm. Aija liked Rose almost as much as she liked Aulus. ...Well, that was a lie. She definitely was more affectionate towards the pokemon than it's trainer; Aija had a feeling Aulus might not like attempted hugs after lessons.  

[TawnyAngel]

"Sawww! Saw saw." Rose beamed and nudged back gently, waving his free hand vaguely.

"Language barrier could be a bit of an issue," Aulus pointed out dryly with a bit of a smirk. "He makes a good assistant though, can't fault his technique in the slightest. And yes, I thought so too, you're coming along well. Have you been practicing?" Aija was an interesting one, a pretty good student if a bit too excitable at times. At least she was directing her physical energy at Rose at the moment, Rose enjoyed that sort of thing so it was a win-win really.  

[Venti Mico]

"Yes! Saw, saw. I agree," she said happily to the Sawk with a giggle.

"Language barrier? I am sure we could figure it out, hm, Rose?" She laughed again, pausing to take a drink from her water bottle, then started fixing up the braid she'd pinned up and around her head to make sure none of it was falling out. She beamed at the compliment, "Thank you, sir! I have- have begun training with my department, but still train for your lessons too." She gave him a nod, full of conviction; she practiced at least 3 times a week. It wasn't too hard, though she'd been more exhausted lately due to her other training. Still, she didn't want to start slacking. Aulus gave his time every week to train her and the others, so she wanted to pay him back with trying as best she could.

"I am not sure when, but I think they will let me leave base with a group soon. Just practice run, full of the, er... what is the word, new bees? I will let you know! I do not wish to miss a lesson, but I am not in charge of scheduling." She gave a put off little huff at the end, really hoping she wouldn't miss a lesson... but she couldn't turn down a practice run with her department. That'd get her no where.  

[TawnyAngel]

Rose made a chuckling sort of noise and nodded enthusiastically before making a broad flapping motion.

"Asgard would take up half the space in here, I'm not having him play translator for you," Aulus replied with a snort. "Plus he'd get bored and probably mistranslate and then where would you be?" Probably saying something embarrassing, that's where.

"Oh yeah?" Aulus turned back to Aija, brows raised slightly. "How's that working out then?" Had she told him which department she was going into? He didn't think so, or if she had he'd forgotten. "And yeah, newbies. Do let me know, it's easier to plan when I know who's coming." Both in terms of numbers and what kinds of ability would be coming along.

Thinking of ability made an idea that had been vaguely floating around his head for a while drift back to the forefront; Aulus frowned thoughtfully to himself and took the water back from Rose. It was a pretty good idea so far as he saw it, it ought to motivate people - some of them anyway - and he couldn't see a downside.  

[Venti Mico]

Aija laughed at the exchange between Rose and Aulus, leaning over against Rose to whisper, "Do not worry, we will figure it out. I will learn Sawk-talk!" Hey, it was doable, right? Yeah, totally! ...Or anyway, Aija was sure she could loosely interpret.

"It is going- um... it is going!" She said, giving way to a quick sigh. "It is much hard work; everyone must be in very super shape so we do training and testing more than I did as field agent. Plus," she put a hand by her mouth and spoke quietly, "Agent leading us is so strict! Is expected, for Intelligence department, but Agent Roth- do you know her? She is so..." She made a very serious, stern expression and crossed her arms, making a disapproving grunt. "Like that! ...Please do not tell her I did that." Her serious look melted to a sheepish one, and she glanced over her shoulder just in case. "B-but, yes! I will tell you. Will know in soon amount of time. I will practice extra hard to make up for lost time!"  

[TawnyAngel]

Rose grinned again and shrugged as he got to his feet. "Saw," he explained, gesturing towards the showers and then waving to Aija before turning and heading towards them.

Aulus meanwhile was frowning deeply again, thinking. "Roth. Roth.... No, I don't think I've come across her," he said with a shake of his head, "sounds like she knows what she's about though." Nevertheless he couldn't help smirking a bit at Aija's impression. "And given I don't know her I guess I can't tell her, hu?" He remembered being a grunt, trying to find his feet and - because it was him - work out who was most likely to stab him in the back. After a moment he registered something else Aija has said, scowled again and added; "Whoever was in charge of you when you were working as a field agent must have been doing it wrong."

There was a perception among some rockets that 'field agent' was what you ended up as when you weren't good for anything 'better'. Unfortunately in some cases that was true but that didn't mean he resented it any less, and in fact he would be more than happy to show some of the 'specialists' what spending your working day focused on field work and on your pokemon could do for your skills in battle.  

[Venti Mico]

"Saw, saw you later!" Aija waved to Rose as he left, smiling.

Aija was glad Aulus didn't know Roth- maybe she was less likely to find out about that impression she'd done. Well, Aija still had a feeling she'd know and make Aija train harder. ...Oh well. Practice was practice. "That is relief. She is scary woman, and tall, lucky combination for her!" Aija said with a hint of pout in her voice; why couldn't she be tall and intimidating? So unfair. But the next part made Aija glad that Aulus hadn't been the one to train her when she was a field agent. She laughed nervously. "I am afraid to admit, I think I may have, what is the phrase? Burning out? I think that would occur to me if I was doing the same amount of training now as then..." Maybe Aulus and Roth were just more... motivated than others, to push people to their best. "Between you and the new trainings, I am feeling muscle in weird places. Here, it almost makes me miss the gymnasium!" Except, Aija liked the practicality of this training more, so as silly as she might act about her training, she was grateful for it.  

[TawnyAngel]

Venti Mico

"You'll get used to it," Aulus replied, somewhat mollified but not about to be overly sympathetic about the grunt's poor muscles.

"What do you think to a competition for the class?" Aulus asked suddenly, putting down his water and getting up to stretch a bit more; it was a bit of a change in topic he supposed but now he had the idea in his head he wanted to sound it out. "Could do a few different levels, I could get trophies or something."  

[Venti Mico]

TawnyAngel

Aija blinked, head tilting. "A... competition?" She thought it over for a second. It didn't take long for a grin to break out on her face. "I think this would be very fun! Maybe, um, motivationing for people! To try harder!" And trophies? Boy, that would be cool. She'd like a trophy- she'd never been big on competitions when she'd been in gymnastics, simply because she never wanted to give her father bragging rights. ...And because she liked to push his buttons, but anyway.

"If you do this, you will let me know when it is? I will train more- right away!" The thought of a competition she'd actually want to compete in got her excited. "Do you have more plans for it? Oh! Mr. Aulus, we should get snack. Would like to hear more of your plans!" She blinked, turning her nose and sniffing herself, "But, perhaps after quick shower..?" She asked, making a face at herself.  

[TawnyAngel]

Venti Mico

Eep, sorry for the enormous delay! If you don't want to continue I understand <3

"I haven't really got any more plans for it yet, only just thought of it," Aulus replied with an easy shrug. "I was going to get food though, you can come if you want and I'll bounce ideas off you." Aija's enthusiasm for the idea was encouraging though and he suspected she'd make a decent enough sounding board, which given he'd not done something like this before was probably a good thing.