The Salle, after Detention

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

After finally being released from Detention, Nefertiri went down to the salle to practice with her knives and staves. Perhaps the naked dancing boys are down there. They had to be somewhere, after all.

She stripped down to her loincloth and camisole, and began a series of passes with her knives, mask in place.

Comments

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

Fists, really, but Tyler would try something new.

"I can use a staff," he said. "And I don't need a mask. Scars are way more interesting. Do you want one?"

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"A staff, yes. A scar, no." She tapped her facemask. "This is enough. Whenever you are ready." Nefertiri smiled at him fiercely. "Show no mercy."

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

"I never do," Tyler promised.

Out of habit, he stepped out of his shoes, then assumed fight stance holding his staff. He twirled it in one hand as he approached Nefertiti.

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

Nefertiri whipped hers in a circle to match, glad for a better spar than the last challenger. She spun the staff toward Tyler's legs, then did a slashing diagonal strike, in case he jumped.

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

The strike got Tyler just above the knee, and he wobbled a little, stepping backward. "Good one, sister," he grunted out, spinning his own staff toward Nefertit's upper arm.

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

Tyler grazed it, making Nefertiri jump backward, and resume ready stance before raising her staff again. "My thanks. You are skilled as well." Better to try a high attack this time, and she swung across, careful not to aim for his head.

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

"You are welcome," Tyler answered.

He moved to dodge the arc of her blow, then struck at her upper back in a wide slash.

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

That connected, and sent her whirling away, wincing. Then she decided to put more distance between them, and did a cartwheel away from him, turning at the end to face Tyler again. "You have much experience, it seems."

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

"Mostly with fists," Tyler admitted. "But it's all the same principles, motion and reaction."

"I can't do gymnastics like that, though."

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

Nefertiri nodded approvingly. "So are my father's pesronal guards trained, the Medjai. I am allowed to drill with them on occasion." She smiled proudly. "The gymnastics, I learned from the temple priestesses." A forward standing somersault, coming up to stand very quickly, very close to him, the staff reaching out but held back from connecting. "For surprise."

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

"You are a surprise," Tyler said. And he was shocked to admit it, but he would almost rather talk to this girl than fight her.

No reason he couldn't do both. He stepped back, resuming fight stance, and struck at her legs with a sweeping blow. "Who is your father?" he asked.

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Seti, Pharoah and High King of Egypt." Nefertiri jumped, and blocked again, keeping up the fight, grinning in pleasure. "I am to be the protector of his treasures, as well as princess. I must be fit to do my duty."

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

"Looks like you have a head start," Tyler noted, trying to push past the block. "I don't know that I've fought a princess before."

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"You would know if you had." Tyler's superior strength overpowered Nefertiri's defenses at that point, and she dropped the staff as she fell back, careful to keep herself out of range. A backflip, and she stood ready, calculating how to retrieve her weapon. "You would qualify to join the Medjai, I think," she said, smiling very carefully.

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

"I'll remember that if I'm in Egypt," Tyler promised.

He stepped back, breathing hard, and leaned on his staff for a moment. "You want to keep going, or you want to call this a draw?"

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"A draw," Nefertiri got her breath back, "Will do nicely." She bowed low, then dove into another forward roll, retrieving her staff, coming to her feet before him. "And should you require another bout, I would be happy to give you one." 'Or something else' was clearly implied, there.

[tyler-gone.livejournal.com]

"I may just," Tyler said, eyes flickering over Evie, "take you up on that." "Either part" was implied.

He walked to stow his staff. "Thank you for the match, Princess."

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, Tyler." Nefertiri watched him leave, smiled secretly, then started her relaxation exercises.