bakerstreet | Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines...

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines...

THE TEST DRIVE MEME

The meme for people who want to pick up a new muse or work the kinks out of a newish one.

How to:

1. Post a comment with your character. Include their name, canon, and preferences for the scene if you wish.
2. Leave the comment blank or set the scene, it's totally up to you.
3. Pick a scene type, get creative, then tag whoever you like!
4. Have fun!

Scenario:

1) ACTION: Fight? Car chase? Shoot-out? This scenario is for all your ass-kicking needs.
2) ANGST: Dealing with depression? A break-up? Maybe you're just sad? Here there be saddening scenes.
3) FLUFF: Just want to play out something adorable? Look no further!
4) ROMANCE: Looking for a ship to play out? Want to thread out a date? You got it all and more here.
5) CRACK: Why bother being serious when you can be over-the-top and ridiculous?
6) GENERAL: Got something that's similar to what's listed here, but not the same? Play it out anyway!
7) DO IT YOURSELF: Don't see anything here you like? Get creative!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

[ It's bad enough Sharon missed the events in New York. And Germany. And at the Stark Expo. And in New Mexico. But to be put on another assignment that kept her out of the action? It wasn't the reason she'd signed up to be a spy.

Her mood is rarely what most would consider to be cheerful, but as she steps foot into the gym, she's downright dour. And she's looking for a fight. If she can't fight Chitauri or Extremis soldiers, she'll take what she can get. ]

[The world of intelligence and espionage is not Shang-Chi's favorite, but it's one in which he knows he has a great deal to contribute and, if the truth be told, he'll always feel a great deal of loyalty to MI6 for their role in rescuing him from his former life. That said, he prefers assignments like these-- being loaned out to other agencies like SHIELD, usually as a combat instructor.

His students gone several minutes ago, Shang-Chi has been taking advantage of the downtime to get in his own workout, as the now sorry-looking heavy bag can attest. He turns at the sound of the door opening and, noting the sullen expression on the woman's face, simply nods and goes back to pummeling the bag.]

[ She nods back and surveys the people who are around as she sets her water aside. She doesn't see any of her usual sparring partners, which doesn't surprise her.

Keeping an eye on the other people working out, she finds an open punching bag and starts unleashing her frustration, slowly feeling better, though her fists never slow down or even lighten up. ]

[A few more minutes and the crowd thins out. Shang-Chi knocks back a few gulps of water and finds his attention pulled to the sound of a punching bag very clearly serving as an effigy for someone's inner turmoil. He sees the blonde agent from before doing quite a number on the poor exercise equipment.

He's not usually one to intrude, but he has a frustration or two himself and after all, wasn't he invited by SHIELD to help train their agents? Shang-Chi takes a few steps closer.]

If you're interested in a livelier target for venting, I haven't had a decent sparring partner yet today.

[ After a couple minutes of punching and kicking the bag, she's feeling cheerful enough to grin when he offers himself up for sparring. She'd made good marks in hand-to-hand combat in SHIELD training, but she'd never say no. ]

Let's see if I'm up to snuff.

[ She nods to a nearby mat. Some other agents are just wrapping up. ]

I'm Sharon, by the way.

[ Saying she's Agent 13 under these circumstances sounds presumptuous. And she gets the feeling that it would come back to haunt her. He seems to know a thing or two about fighting, and she'd be a fool to underestimate him. ]

Shang-Chi. [He bows and settles into a loose stance, his eyes finding Sharon's and never wavering except to catch glimpses of her movements, analyzing her style and skill level.] What division are you? Or are you one of the ones not allowed to say? [He detects the signs of standard US-style hand-to-hand combat systems, learned well. She should do well. Shang-Chi beckons her over to make the first move.]

Let's just say I'm in a division where it helps to know how to fight. [ And fight better than she does now.

She grins at his invitation and moves in fast, not wanting him to have any more time to prepare than he's already had. The first kick is high. ]

What about you? What do you do?

[So he surmises. She carries herself too confidently to be anything but a field agent. Good, Shang-Chi thinks. The potential for a good workout at last.

He moves fluidly, ducking low under the kick before throwing a few exploratory punches in her direction, watching for reactions.]

I'm... a trainer. Kind of an outside consultant.

[ He dodges easily, and she fends off the punches with equally relative ease. He's testing her. This time, she moves faster, aiming a punch to his chest.

This time, she doesn't address his comment. She only gives him a cheeky smile before dropping to the floor. He might expect the punch; she certainly expects him to block it. But she's hoping to leverage that and kick his feet out from under him. She knows he's going easy on her, and going easy during training isn't going to help her in the real world. She needs something more. Something harder. ]

[The punch is telegraphed slightly, but not fatally, and Shang-Chi blocks it easily. He smiles, though, as Sharon comes within a few inches of her sweeping leg making contact with his own. He flips backwards, avoiding the kick and dancing out of her immediate range.]

Very good. Work on speeding that up just a fraction and you'll surprise a lot of bad guys with it.

[Feet moving quickly, he feints one way and then darts another, slipping close. When she reaches out to strike again, Shang-Chi twists and goes for her arm, intending to throw her to the mat unless she manages to avoid it.]

[ Even knowing how good he is, she still doesn't expect him to grab her arm and try to throw her. Fortunately, Sharon's sparring with some other agents has prepared her. She lands on a foot and kicks out with the other.

She's grinning to herself. Finally, a good spar. Things have been dry without some of her friends around. But this is good. ]

[Shang-Chi's mouth curls up in a smile. He's genuinely impressed with her instincts and reflexes. When they're finished, he's definitely making sure she signs up for his more advanced classes.]

Very good! Not easy to think as quickly off your feet as on them.

[Time to test out those reflexes, he decides. Shang-Chi advances a few steps and lets loose a flurry of jabs at her upper body-- none strong enough to do much damage if they connect, but he's more interested in how many actually do.]

You should've seen my- [ She'd been about to mention her aunt, but suddenly there are fists flying at her from seemingly all directions. She can't block all of them. The ones that connect don't hurt badly enough to make her want to call it quits, but there are more making contact than she likes. She goes on the offensive, trying to get under and around the jabs to hit him instead.

She's concentrating on the hits, but it occurs to her as yet another gets through that fists aren't her only option. Mostly wanting to see how it will play out rather than expecting it to work, she kicks a leg out and tries to sweep his leg out from under him. ]

Good-- [After a number of touches, she manages to turn the tables enough that Shang-Chi is dividing his time between blocks and strikes.] -- use every advantage, find the openings or make them.

[The thought to lower her next target is an unconventional one, and when her kick makes contact with his ankle, it shakes his balance for a few seconds, requiring him to withdraw from the offensive and regroup. He does it with a laugh and a smile.]

You are not allowed to miss my next advanced session, do you understand?

Advanced sess- [ He thought she was that good? She put her guard back up, but behind her raised fists, she smiles. Advanced sessions are good.

And so is showing that she's good enough for them.

She moves in again, more relaxed but no slower. Natasha's sparring and training tips had given her a fondness for footwork, and she shows that now by aiming a kick to his ribs.

Finally, a workout. And a fun workout. Her day might not be so awful after all. ]

[The rhythm changes. Shang-Chi feels the energy of the sparring match flow and shift direction, away from the early, sharper, testing and feeling out of its beginning. Now the feeling is lighter, almost playful. Sharon feels comfortable in the ring with him and it shows.

He doesn't have the slightest problem with that. When you've been in as many fights for your life as Shang-Chi, a little play is appreciated. He deflects the kick and nods.]

Good instinct, but be careful if your opponent is wearing any kind of body armor. Wait until they turn a few more degrees and you can aim for the kidney.

[ Though she's never officially met him before, she's starting to appreciate him more and more. She smiles and steps into his space, twisting and grabbing for one of his arms to send him flying over her. ]

Good notes. I like the way you think.

[ Now what's he got on that toss? She knows that it can need some work, especially against him. It doesn't help that she's smaller than most of the people she fights, too. ]

[Shang-Chi sees her turn into the throwing position and waits until the last second to flex his knees, dropping his center of gravity. The move virtually hits a "pause" button on the fight.]

You're in the right spot, but you need to use what most people see as a disadvantage. Most men won't do what I did, they'll try to pull you back towards them.

[His free hand positions her as he speaks.]

Drive your opposite hip back into his midsection, then turn and bend your legs, like lunging-- let your legs do the work, not your back. Now go.

[Two seconds later, Shang-Chi is flat on his back on the mat in front of her.]

[ She grins down at him and offers a hand to help him up. This lesson is amazing. She almost wants to go out and fight some bad guys just so she can use some of the moves. ]

How long have you been doing this, anyway?

[With an answering smile, he accepts the hand and gets to his feet.]

Oh, since before I could walk. My father, he was... pretty intense about my training.

[The very short, very simplified version of the story. The whole truth would take a lot longer and possibly a friendly drink. It was just about this time that Shang-Chi glances around and realizes they've had a dozen or so agents watching.]

Looks like I wasn't the only one impressed. I don't think you'll be hurting for sparring partners from now on.

Sounds like it would be pretty intense, yeah.

[ She follows his glance, and her eyes widen faintly as she sees the other agents watching. ]

Something tells me they're here for you, Mr. Trainer Man.

[ She smiles wickedly. ] You'd better hope Black Widow doesn't hear about this. She'll try to set you up with any single person she knows.

[He tilts his head towards the other agents, who are starting to break up and get on with the workouts they came to do in the first place.] Maybe. But you gave them a good show yourself. Be proud.

[Laughing, he crosses to a nearby set of shelves, taking two bottles of water down and handing one over to her.]

What makes you think she hasn't already been trying? Anyway, I think she's still trying to zero in on what my type is.

[ She takes the water with a grateful smile and grabs a couple of small towels to get some of the sweat off. She hands one to him. ]

That's not good. Natasha zeroes in pretty quickly. Sounds like she's got something up her sleeve. You as good at mental acrobatics as you are at physical?

[ Because if Natasha has decided to help him, he'll need to be. ]

[Toweling off, he contemplates her advice. It doesn't settle his mind on the subject.] I'm not in Stark's or Banner's class, but I get by.

You sound as though you've got some experience with the subject. [Perhaps, Shang-Chi thinks, Romanoff successfully paired the agent with her current boyfriend or some such.]

[ Sharon looks at him sharply and raises an eyebrow. That sounds merely like modesty to her. People who aren't as smart as Stark and Banner can still be plenty smart. ]

I think she likes setting her friends up with people.

[ It's been a fairly recent thing, too, which makes Sharon think that Natasha has a romantic relationship of her own and wants other people to have that to. She wonders what will happen if and when Natasha and whoever she's dating break up.

But that's Natasha's business, and Sharon is glad to let her keep it that way. ]

At least you always know who she likes. [ She grins. ] Probably for the best she considers you enough of a friend to try to set you up.

[ And no, it's not going to occur to her that Shang-Chi might have been asking if she had a boyfriend. Sharon is not what Natasha would call "Romantically intelligent." ]

2 - in the same boat

:)

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Sorry for the wait! Work got crazy!

No worries :)

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