DAY IN THE LIFE OF

[chore_boy]

Date & Time: 7/31/13 - 8/19/13
Location: The Training Hall, the Library or the local deli Coby works at.
Characters: Coby & YyyYyYYyoouUuUUuUuuu... Open.
Summary: Coby's day! From 6AM - 11AM, he works at a deli close to the dormitories. At 12PM, he trains by himself and with others are whatever times they come in until 10PM. Then, he adjourns to the library until roughly 2AM and then goes home to sleep.
Warnings: None, unless things change, which they probably won't. Then, they'll probably change. See the aforementioned statement.

Coby wore time like an old, weathered sock. It was thin and flimsy, too wrinkly for anyone fashionable and poked with holes. He had worn his routine so thin that most people would have gone insane from the tedium and repetition of it on a daily basis, but he took solace in how simple it was. He would wake up right at 6AM, stretch and get dressed for work. He would listen to his boss yell at him as he chopped up and prepared meals for the lunch rush before he would leave and go to the training halls to teach and be taught, himself.

On a good day, Saber wouldn't wreck him too badly. Then, he'd be able to exploit the benefits of decent composure and consciousness to help teach others. His students, often times baffled by his unnerving stupidity in extraordinary situations, he believed to be extremely generous and kind. When the time came to leave the training hall, Coby would adjourn to the locker-rooms, shower and head to the library, where he would nurse his possible wounds and nearly fall asleep in a number of history books. The pile had grown smaller and he worried about it. He would run out of material soon and each day he spent trying to bridge the gap with other things, but he had gotten to be worried about some genres.

Otherwise, no one could have said Coby ever had really bad days. They were all essentially the same. His regiment was a strict one and with that repetition, he could accurately gauge his progress. In the end, he would leave the library, utterly satisfied with himself even if to some people it would have easily resembled a prison-time sentence.

It would have been nice if someone bothered him.

The only break in the tedium would be friday, the 2nd of August. Then, he would go to see an eye doctor and consider getting new frames. He would spent three solid hours in the shop in front of the doctor's office trying out glasses frames.

(OOC: Feel free to jump in anywhere! Add the time & date in the subject header!)

Comments

right after training?

[taijiya]

Every day when she finished her training with Coby, Sango felt like she could not possibly be any more bruised and battered than she was at that exact moment. That is, until the next day, when she was just that much more beaten.

She never complained, nor had she found any reason to. She had trusted Coby from the beginning that there was a point to all the abuse--and within the first few days she'd felt the results. Who could gripe about pain when the gain was so blatantly obvious?

It was after one of these sessions that Sango sat cross-legged on the floor next to him, breathing hard and swiping a towel across her neck, reflecting. "How long did you say you trained with your teacher for this?" But she sounded more curious than impatient, if anything.

[chore_boy]

Coby stretched himself out, throwing a few spare shadow-punches into the air after Sango settled. He understood when to let someone call uncle and when not to and it had gotten to the point that Sango was, after all, understandably exhausted. It wasn't as if she were a slow learner, but given that she was already stronger than most of his students right off the bat, he had to be a bit harder on her than usual.

For her, it was more so teaching her technique than making her physically stronger. It already seemed like she was strong enough to even put him off balance with a well-placed kick.

"I trained for a few months before I saw results," Coby smiled inwardly. "Though, I pretty much put myself in the most difficult training regiment possible. I don't think I want to do the same for you, because it'd be considered real torture at that point, Miss Sango."

[taijiya]

"You don't have to call me 'Miss,' you know," Sango said. It seemed a little silly that he'd still be so formal when he was practically beating the shit out of her (in a good way?) day after day.

But she did adopt a contemplative look at his mention of 'torture.' "You don't think I could handle it?" she asked, half teasing. She knew that she'd started off stronger than most of his students because of Hiraikotsu and her demon slayer training; even so, she was not a special case. She was not so eager for this power that she would willingly submit herself to what Coby described as torture--and if this didn't count as such for him, she was impressed by his definition. Even if this didn't meet her standards of torture, either.

"So why did you put yourself through it?" she asked, more serious than her last question. "Because you were always getting walked all over?"

[chore_boy]

For a moment, Coby remembered how painful it was to have a sharp high heel get driven into his forehead and stomach. Getting stomped on by a giant, superhuman woman whose hubris dwarfed all aspects of what a decent person could be with ease didn't ever seem to feel good. He was certain he spent more time crying below the deck of Alvida's ship than he did anything else.

Though, when he remembered it, it forced him to remember that he wasn't there anymore--that someone helped him and got him on the right path. Without the help of someone strong, he couldn't have escaped and become what he was. Thinking about it, Coby smiled just a little, shrugging.

"Isn't it nice, having someone to help you when you're in trouble? When I think about it--too many people in the world are probably completely alone, held hostage by somebody stronger than them."

He smiled much more at the thought, almost laughing.

"The looks on their faces, when someone helps them! I want to get strong--strong like the biggest monster in the world--so I can save people from all their villains!"

[taijiya]

Sango just looked at him for a long moment. She'd always known that Coby was a kind-hearted person, but... she hadn't quite been expecting this sort of answer. In a way it almost reminded her of something Kagome might say, if she were a pink-haired Marine with a strength complex.

But if there was anything she could understand, it was a desire for the strength to protect people. So after her moment of staring, Sango's face was split by what was probably the biggest smile Coby had seen from her yet.

"I think that's probably the best reason anyone could ever give," she told him honestly. "I wish there were more people in the world like you. And hearing that from you now, it makes me even more sure you're capable of accomplishing it."

[chore_boy]

It made him feel better, hearing that. Coby reached up to open up the collar of his shirt and tug it away, airing himself out just a little. Though he didn't usually, Sango had been one of the few students of his to get him to build a sweat. Along with Keith, they had both been strong enough on their own. With his other hand, Coby lowered his arm so Sango could take hold and he could help her straighten out.

"There's no need to say anything like that, but thank you--"

He often times found himself capable of ignoring compliments, knowing better than to become arrogant. Though, it still made him feel plenty validated to hear Sango call his goal something good, "As long as you continue dreaming about your goals, they'll always be possible."

[taijiya]

Sango grabbed onto his arm thankfully, levering to her feet.

"Well, with all the things I'm learning, maybe." Only three months here and she was already significantly stronger and more able than she had been at home. Of course, that didn't mean she could match up to many people here, or Naraku at home... but it was progress, wasn't it?

[chore_boy]

When Coby felt Sango straighten a little bit, he let go, reached up to touch the back of his neck and rub at it.

"Ah, naturally," Coby threw one punch in the air in perfect posture. "Nothing is obtained immediately! Hard work is a good path to achieving those dreams, Sango. I'll definitely do my best to help. Now--it'd be fair to get something to eat, right?"

11 PM, the library

[drizzling]

Juvia yawned as she rubbed her eyes and looked around the library, she was exhausted but didn't feel like going to bed. She was also drenched in water. Now normally, most nights Juvia would have been able to sleep effortlessly, but with everything that had happened recently- Gray being nowhere in sight, Lucy getting injured, Tank stalking her just about everywhere (yes, she was unaware of how hypocritical that was), a lot of her friends still missing - the water mage sort of sunk back into her old ways. The strangers in the city didn't help the matter either. She could recall several times how some of them gave her funny looks due to the light rain pour engulfing her and one even commented on it. She only felt slightly more secure when she took refuge in the library.

She happened to plop herself right next to Coby. The rain didn't follow her into the building, thank God, but water did splash everywhere as she sat and there was a good chance it got both Coby and his books.

UH. Woops. Now what did she do?

[chore_boy]

He fell asleep the second his head touched the desk. Having attempted to get a few words into his mind, the exhaustion that had set in after a few rounds with Saber left him so sleepy that he couldn't focus. It wasn't her strength that made things difficult. Coby was growing accustomed to how inhumanly strong he'd become. The problem was--he spent too much time admiring her as a foe to want to initiate his own attacks. As a result, he spent the entire fight avoiding attacks and utterly exhausting himself by the end of the day.

Waking up in an instant the moment he was splashed with water, Coby sat up stark still, his eyes wide and his expression dumbfounded. He placed his hands on the table, dripping.

"D-Did I spill something?"

[charming_jerk]

Some night post-training, while Coby was leaving the library, he'd find Johnny out in the streets, singing and playing his heart out on his guitar. Despite the rain, and his exhaustion from training, he's still out there every day he can manage. Since the Transports fell out of favor with the local exiles, he's not allowed to play in any of the bars any longer, so he just hides under some overhangs and plays the street corners. That's that he's used to anyway.

When he sees Coby walking by, he keeps playing, but gives Coby a nod in greeting as he does. He'll talk to him once he's done if Coby bothers to stick around.

"Hey. Where ya off to?"

[chore_boy]

Ever the softy, Coby couldn't have imagined saying hello and not sticking around to chat, even if he were feeling almost too tired to stand. What he never let anyone know after his training sessions was--he went straight to spar with Saber on most days and that left him with bruises to conceal the next morning. He didn't even think to cover up a few of them with his scarf as usual, instead just walking down the street in a tank top and shorts, his glasses hanging off of his face a little loosely.

When he was stopped by Johnny, he blinked at the other young man in surprise. Usually, he was more prepared.

"Oh--Johnny! I was actually headed home. Are you just out practicing?"

[charming_jerk]

Johnny leaned down to lock his guitar in its case, and picked up a coffee can that was sitting next to it, and rattled it. Only a few coins jingled inside.

"Nah, tryin' to make some money, since they don't let me play anywhere in town now. Business still sucks out here, too." He fished out his earnings from the can and shoved them in a pocket, then shouldered the guitar. "I'd say we should get a drink, but they don't even let me drink there anymore either."

[chore_boy]

For a moment, Coby felt a flash of anger. It wasn't anything new to him, but the constant stream of oppression and hostility towards transports had gotten him riled up. Though he was at the brunt of that judgement just as everyone else, he hardly cared when it was pointed in his direction. When it was pointed at a friend, he couldn't help himself.

"How needlessly cruel," He said, gripping one hand tightly in a fist. Though he was exhausted, Coby still seemed energetic and livid.

"Johnny. In order to perform in your own venue, what would you need?"

Unfortunately, Saber's will bled into his. An artist, starving? He felt bile of anger in his stomach.

[charming_jerk]

That questions caused Johnny's eyes to widen a bit. It's actually not the first time someone's brought that idea up. "Ain't sure, actually. We don't have a lot of space in the Transport's area. A friend 'a mine suggested I try to open somethin', but..." He shrugs. He's not sure if it could be done. New Transports were often sleeping on cots until enough new apartments were opening up - where would they have enough open space for performances?

"Anyway, looks like someone got on up on ya today." Johnny indicated the new bruises on Coby.

[chore_boy]

"It's Saber," He replied easily, scratching his cheek a bit nervously. Though, he wasn't totally content with the prospect of the topic going back to himself, especially when the real tragedy seemed to be someone taking away from Johnny's happiness. "It's just from training with her."

"But--Hmm. Perhaps if I did research on what it takes to actually build a building, we could arrange something for ourselves. Most villages need equipment to do that kind of thing, but--well, we are very strong, Johnny."

[charming_jerk]

"Heh. That we are. I mean, I'm willin' to help put somethin' together, if we got the spare resources for somethin' like that. The war effort comes first, I guess." Johnny was a lot of things, but selfish wasn't one of them.

"Saber, huh? Haven't met her, but I'm startin' to think I need to." Anyone who could do that to Coby had to be a badass in Johnny's book.

[chore_boy]

"Technically, this is part of the war," Coby asserted himself, reaching up to touch and stretch his shoulder. It was always part of an officer's duty to help his soldiers relax. It was why Coby let them go on outings frequently between assignments and often times stayed back to do the work to prevent anything from slowing down. If anyone bent backwards for their comrades, it would easily be Coby.

"Entertainment for soldiers is an absolute necessity," He continued on, ignoring the suggestion Johnny made. It was clear that he was nervous about it, given his irritation before was replaced by a nervous twitch. It was tough, imagining Johnny and Saber combined to make his life all the more arduous.

"B-But, I understand what you mean. This must not be an immediate goal, rather than one that is accomplished between priorities."

Library!

[bodilesswarrior]

She's always enjoyed libraries. When she was little, and she wanted to forget, tat was where she went, losing herself in fantasy and poetry and history. It was her sanctuary.

It didn't surprise anyone, really, when she decided to be a librarian. Sometimes she still misses it.

One of the first things she did was pinpoint the city's libraries. They're all small, all worn, but they take care of their books. Today, she picks the largest.

Coby and his pile of history books is one of the first thing she notices, and she smiles faintly.

"How's the selection?"

[chore_boy]

"Rustic," Coby responded easily, looking out from atop one of the smaller piles. It was a mixture of research, cross-referencing and continual adaptation of his existing knowledge. In reading one book, he would look back to something else he read on the same topic and look back and forth to see which text seemed more valid on the topic.

At that, he really wasn't sure how to answer the question aside from that. He paused, giving himself a bit of a mental break before looking at Barbara properly, pushing his pile a few inches aside.

"A lot of things conflict in dates and occurrences. It's a little difficult to take everything seriously, especially when it comes to history from a world you've only recently been brought to."

[bodilesswarrior]

A slight nod, as she wheels herself over. That's been her experience, too.

"That's why you're cross-referencing?" Her tone is eminently approving.

[chore_boy]

"I imagine it's natural to be speculative, but I have to wonder even more," Coby slowly shut one of the books he was reading after slipping the little silk bookmark in to save his page.

"More so, because in my world--we hardly have any history. Most of it disappeared in recent centuries."

[bodilesswarrior]

Barbara frowns. "I'm sorry to hear that." And she is, truly. History is so much more than facts and dates; it's loss and discovery and revolution. To lose all of that is to lose a society's foundation.

"I studied history, at home. We're fortunate; it's been documented for a long time." Granted, it all comes with human biases.

[chore_boy]

Nodding at that, Coby leaned against his elbows, though primarily because he was incredibly tired as it was. It didn't take much out of him to read, especially because it was actually exciting material, but he was still very much feeling it.

"I believe history has its importance, but as a society we've done well without it being readily documented. They say that we need it to avoid making the same mistakes, but," Coby yawned a little, smiling while embarrassed with himself. "W-Well, it's something ingrained into us. Even if it isn't written, our evolution will remind us."

[bodilesswarrior]

Barbara returns the smile as she nods. "The best societies have long memories." Even without strict records, people can pass down their lessons.

"Still, it helps, being able to examine the details. See where it all went right, or wrong."