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[firewalled]

"Yo, it's Rich, bitch! Hit me up!"

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[breakaleginhalf]

Right? [There'd been a small moment of fear on his behalf that Rich would react badly, but the laughter is great, and he's reaching down to pull him up again.] Okay, now you can try that on me. Remember, your right foot behind their right ankle - or left, just same-same or you're gonna fall too.

[firewalled]

Right foot, right ankle. Okay, cool!

[He grins as he's helped back up to his feet, before using that momentum to pull Gil forward, grabbing his shirt and hooking his foot behind the older man's. He shoves after that, though it's hard to say if he's got enough weight behind it to knock Gil off balance.]

[breakaleginhalf]

[The shove alone might not have, but that's what the ankles are for. Gil doesn't twist and fall like Rich did, though - it's more of a stumble and a hard drop backwards, with two uneven slaps as he lands partly on his side with a sharp 'oof'.

There's a moment's pause from him, as he processes (and holds in a counterattack), before he bursts out laughing.]

Not bad! Next time try shoving with your hips, as well as your arms - you're already pressed against them there, make the most of it.

[firewalled]

Okay! I got it! I'm really good with my hips anyways.

[It's a little teasing, but Rich is just relieved Gil seems to be okay. He was worried for a second there when he landed awkwardly.]

You aren't too banged up, right? I'm not nearly as strong as you, I thought it'd be fine.

[breakaleginhalf]

Oh noooo, I've broken every single bone in my body. How could you do this to me Rich, I thought you loved meeee.

[Said in the most monotone deadpan Gil can muster, and he leaves it hanging for a few seconds before he snorts and pushes himself to his feet.]

Dude, once I fell down a fifty foot hill that was nearly vertical and landed in a blackberry bush, this is fine.

[firewalled]

Okay, haha. You don't have to rub it in! I was just checking to make sure.

[He raises an eyebrow as Gil gets to his feet.]

Though I am going to have to ask how you fell down a hill that steep and somehow survived it. You must have broken something with a fall like that.

[breakaleginhalf]

I mean. [He gestures up and down himself.] A lot of skin, yeah. Nearly my neck and wrist. Not all of this is thorns, obviously, but I definitely came out of that bush with more cuts than I went in.

[firewalled]

Oh... shit, duh.

[Rich is so used to his own scars that sometimes he forgets to connect the dots with other people's.]

Still, I think you'd be pretty lucky to survive a fall like that.

[breakaleginhalf]

[Gil laughs despite himself.]

Yeah, but I think I used up most of my luck for the rest of my life in that. I'm just coasting now, seeing what happens.

[He thumps both hands lazily into his chest and swings his arms wide.]

And waiting for featherweight wrestlers to throw me around.

[firewalled]

Yeah, yeah! Someone's looking for an ass whooping, I get it.

[Rich still can't help but be worried about Gil, but he tries to shake it off and focus on the training. Just like last time, he grabs hold of the older man, hooks one leg behind his, and this time, shoves with his hips to try to knock him down faster.]

[breakaleginhalf]

[Gil's the older one, it's supposed to be his job to worry about you, Rich.

Still, the second time Rich throws him is much less straight down, and Gil hits the ground with another solid slap. But he grins much more readily this time.]

Look at you being all good at shit.

[firewalled]

Hey, come on! I just have a good teacher!

[Rich is quietly flustered at the compliment, his cheeks slightly pink as he reaches out to help Gil up.]

You're really smart, honestly. Most teachers can't get anything through my thick skull.

[breakaleginhalf]

State of the American education system, I fucking swear. [It's a weirdly petty grumble, as he takes the assist to his feet, but his ears are flicked in annoyance.] You're not stupid, Rich. You just need more engagement than a teacher reciting lines at a whiteboard. 's'why this is a game, I figured making it fun would help keep you interested, wanna learn shit. I had to do this all the time with my best friend, her brain slid right off anything that didn't show immediately interesting results.

[firewalled]

...You think so?

[Rich maybe knew, deep down, that there was more to his failing grades than just stupidity and the fear of being seen as a nerd, but he hadn't expected someone to call it out so bluntly.]

I guess I am kinda better with hands on stuff...

[breakaleginhalf]

Yeah? Own that, man! Do you even know how much a good plumber can make in a year, you could make like fifty grand a year even as an apprentice. Or like-- shit, stunt-manning's meant to be rad too, you get to do flips and shit for a living.

[firewalled]

Huh... those actually don't sound like bad ideas...

[God knows he would love a job with tons of excitement...]

It's kind of embarrassing, but I always wanted to do something to really... help people. You know, people who've really gone through shit and think that means they're worthless...

[You know, people like him.]

[breakaleginhalf]

[He knew Rich wasn't actually that shallow, but that's still a surprise to hear from him. A cool one, but nonetheless.]

Oh yeah, like therapy or counselling? That can be tricky to break into, lots of boring reading involved, but yeah- I can totally see that for you.

[firewalled]

Heh, yeah, I have the feeling the studying is going to trip me up. I wouldn't mind doing that, or being a social worker or something... but like I could afford to go to school anyways.

[Should he really be daydreaming about stuff that isn't going to be possible for him?]

[breakaleginhalf]

You guys have free community colleges or something, right, aren't those a thing? You don't have to go to fucking Harvard or whatever to get a license to help people. Or you could get a scholarship, you're fit. Pick a sport and get paid.

[firewalled]

Mm, maybe... just thought I wouldn't have time, since I'm gonna move out on my own right after high school. Holding down a job is probably gonna keep me preoccupied...

[Still, he will admit it's tempting to think about going.]

[breakaleginhalf]

[In this fucking economy, that's a good plan, and he gives Rich a finger-gun.]

Smort. And yeah, like, you can always go back to college later when you're all settled in. Doesn't have to be immediately out of school.

[firewalled]

That is a good point. Hell, maybe I can think about college later when I save up some money. If it's possible to save up money when the world's such a hellfire.

[He's seen some of the worst sides of his country's system and it's hard for him to not feel... just a little disheartened.]

[breakaleginhalf]

[Yeah, that's a valid point. A miserable one, admittedly, but knowing Rich is a realist is good news.]

It is if you're good at budgeting. And that's less about knowing maths and more about forward planning, which is its own learned skill. Take it from someone who's seen pros at work, there's gonna be a lot of stew and noodles in your future.

[firewalled]

Heh, like that's not already my present?

[He was living on that and mooching off Jake at home, so he thinks he can survive a couple more years of that if he really wants to go to college.]

Either way... guess it's something for me to figure out if I go back home.

[breakaleginhalf]

[Gil notices that if, not when, and his ears flick back a little. Right, he hasn't really thought about that.

Well, he's not gonna start now. So he steps forward and claps a hand on Rich's shoulder.]

In the interim, you've got plenty of stuff to focus on, so make sure you keep your eyes forward for a bit. Or you're gonna get floored by something unexpected.

[And in two quick motions he's grabbed Rich and tripped him to the ground again, grinning brilliantly.]

Like that.