Salle, Late Tuesday Afternoon

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip opened the door and picked out two bo staffs, tossing one to Nadia. "You know, I don't think I've actually been in here."

_{[[Pip and Nadia sparring is alright for broadcast. Their conversation following it is not.]]}

Comments

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia caught the staff easily and spun it a few times to warm up a bit. "Neither have I. Always wanted to check it out, though."

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip spun his once and popped his neck. "Peter was saying something about teaching me swordplay here in return for all the hand-to-hand stuff I showed him."

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia made a face. "I'm not a fan of swords, actually."

She spun the staff a few more times, then stepped to the middle of the room, automatically assuming a defensive position.

One that she hadn't been aware of "five days" ago, though it didn't occur to her that her fighting style might have changed that much.

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip spun the staff around a few times, seemingly warming up, then suddenly struck out with a lightning fast strike toward's Nadia.

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia stepped back immediately and twisted her staff to deflect the blow away from her body.

She grinned.

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip followed through, using his momentum to spin around and jab at Nadia's head.

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia ducked the jab and swung low at Pip's knees.

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip jumped back, clearing the swing. Upon landing, he spun the stick into a defensive pose and waited for Nadia to make the next move.

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia didn't pause, but spun quickly with the momentum of her swing and feinted to Pip's left while aiming a kick to his right.

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip dodged to the side and brought his staff up to catch Nadia's leg and throw her off her balance.

[nadiathesaint]

As Nadia's leg was forced up, she dropped her body backwards, turning the momentum into a controlled flip and roll, then bounced back up and jabbed to Pip's midsection.

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip raised an eyebrow quizzically as he blocked the jab, sliding it away from his body, and went in for a quick strike to Nadia's shoulder.

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia deflected it and moved to circle behind Pip.

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Suddnely, Pip threw himself into a tackle at Nadia, forcing to her to the ground and pinning his staff across her neck. "Nadia isn't nearly this good," he growled. "And you can't have that much improvement in five days. Who are you and what have you done with her. Your score is dependent on time and what you say will influence my decision on whether I will break your arms or not."

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia grabbed onto his staff and twisted her body sharply, pushing up against the pressure and then yanking to both throw Pip off of her and hopefully manage to disarm him in the process.

"It's sweet that you're all concerned like that? But I'm getting really sick of that question."

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip, unfortunately, knew that trick and was very capable of keeping his hand on his weapon. He thudden onto the mat and looked up. "Then start giving out answers. If you are Nadia, something which you have yet to prove, there's something you aren't telling us. Last week Nadia's fighting was instinctual and based on street fighting. Now you're actually reacting like you've been trained."

[nadiathesaint]

Aw, crap. Nadia had forgotten that she'd sparred with Pip so close to when she'd left. She sat up and pulled one knee up, folding her hands on top of it and resting her chin on that.

"I could tell you," she said. "But then I'd have to kill you."

Why was she pushing this? Oh, right, because she was still looking for a challenge.

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip laughed darkly. "I'll take my chances. You've improved, but I'm still better."

[nadiathesaint]

"You've got quite the ego on you, haven't you. I've taken down guys bigger than you are."

And now she was bluffing. Later she might wonder what had gotten into her, why keeping things a secret had seemed so important. For now, she just knew that she didn't want Pip to say "I told you so".

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

"I'm afraid, Nadia, that even if that is true, it doesn't particularly impress me. Size isn't everything. What happened?"

[nadiathesaint]

"I. Can't. Tell you."

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip popped his neck. "And why not?"

[nadiathesaint]

"I went down to train for an intelligence agency. Why do you think?"

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

"Not a good enough answer," Pip responded. "And that's just an excuse. I live in the shadow world too, Nadia. I know that's an just an excuse."

[nadiathesaint]

"Well, how about it's none of your goddamned business?" Nadia shot to her feet, retrieving her staff. "I'm here to spar, not to fight."