fandomhighdorms | Gym [March 13, Tuesday Afternoon]

Eve bounced in, wearing sweatpants and a gigantic Teal Dear T-shirt. She waved to Irulan and joined her at the mat, and flopped down to begin stretching. "Hi Irulan! How are you?"

"Evie, hello," Irulan greeted, pleased and stopped stretching.

"I've decided to do my exercising on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Saturdays," Evie informed her. "Although I may only be in the gym on Tuesdays. Walking is much more fun." She reached over and touched her toes, then stretched her arms above her head. "Do you have time to show me those self-defense things you were talking about?"

"I would be pleased to," Irulan said and unrolled her training kit. She took out two fighting knives and showed it to Evie. "These are training knives, dulled edges would not do anything but irritate your opponent."

Evie was momentarily intimidated, but then reminded herself that Nefertiri's blades hadn't even been dulled. "Are they difficult to learn?" she asked, reaching for one, and very carefully picking it up.

"I do not think so," Irulan said and repeating her teachers words, "But anything can be perfected through rigorous practice."

Evie took one of the knives, and got to her feet. "What do I do?" she asked, making a few practice slashes at the mirror, and then trying to twirl the knife, dropping it. "Well, not that, apparently."

Irulan smiled at Evie, amused, "Here, let me show you basic footwork."

Since Evie was a beginner, Irulan started at the very basic, going into proper position and slowly working the first form. She stopped before she went to the second form, "Your turn."

Evie carefully-- and slowly-- imitated what Irulan had done, without dropping the knife this time. She was a little wobbly, though, on anything that required her to be on only one foot, and while she copied the forms correctly, it was without much grace.

"You're doing well," Irulan assured, remembering her first shaky steps, "all you need do is find your balance and remember to turn with your waist, not just your arm."

"Turn with the-- oh!" Evie stopped, and started over again, exaggerating the motions, but at least this time, she kept her balance. "Does doing forms like this really help you in a knife fight?" she asked dubiously.

She bit back a smile, Evie reminded Irulan of herself when she first started.

"I had the same question to my instructor, even though his answer was terse I can assure you it does. We are just starting with the first form but once you have mastered the forms, it can be something to see. Let me demonstrate."

Irulan picked up a second knife and started moving, going through the motions but with out the Weirding Way speed. Parry, thrust, defend and a quick thrust down.

"Good... heavens." Evie gaped in astonishment, then frowned and with renewed deterination, completed her form. "There!" She took a breath. "How long have you been studying, Irulan?"

She nodded, "Better." Irulan thought, trying to remember, "I feel as if I have been studying all my life. I think I started when I entered my sixth year."

"Ohhhh." Evie hadn't really expected anything different, but that *was* discouraging. "So it shall be some time before I can do that--" she made flailing motions with her hands, then stopped abruptly. "Thing. The Weirding Way."

"Perhaps not," Irulan said, she'd been studying Evie's movements, "But for a new student to the arts, you do move well, perhaps your time as Nefertiri served well and left its mark on you?"

"Do you really think so?" Evie brightened, bouncing on her toes. "Oh, I'd liked to believe that. I try to remember what she did, but for her it was all so-- flowing." She sighed, and went through the form twice more. "Like that?"

"That's it," Irulan said with a nod, Perhaps it's the state of mind? Picture in your mind, flowing water and picture yourself flowing like the water in your mind."

Evie tried to do that, but it got distracting. The image of sand blowing was easier for her to hang on to, and with that, she managed to make her movements less rigid, a bit faster. "Have you ever stabbed anyone?" she asked artlessly.

"Yes," Irulan said, concentrating on Evie's movements and not at all getting the import of her statement, "Now move your right foot a little forward."

Evie stopped, moved her right foot, and bit her lower lip. "When did you do that?"

"Every sparring session in Kaitain." Irulan said, still not getting it, "You may move now."

Evie stared, then hurriedly re-assumed the position, and slowly started moving again. "You-- but these are dulled blades. Why would you need to stab someone in practice?"

"Yes, dulled edges for practice but there are some ceremonial activities which require the real blades." Irulan frowned, there was too much tension in Evie's body. "Wait, perhaps you should do this--" She moved her foot and made a circular motion with her arms.

"Oh." Evie was still fairly confused about this, and imitated the circular motion, trying to focus. "So, so it was like, a play. Not just a stabbing in a match?"

"Well, to win, one must stub," she explained, as confused at Evie's confusion. "It is only proper to the forms of the match."

"Oh." Evie blinked, then rather desperately asked, "And then they received prompt medical attention and were quite fine, weren't they?"

Irulan blinked, huh? "They don't get hurt, not if done right -- we have personal shields you see."

"Ohhhhh!" Evie relaxed, and laughed a little, re-settling her feet and wiggling her toes. "I was afraid there for a moment. Personal shields?"

Irulan nodded and demonstrated, flicking on the switch of the shield she always had on her person, there was the smell of ozone and a quick blink and you'll miss it change in surroundings.

"Projectile weapons do nothing for this, as well as a quick stab," Here she demonstrated with a stab to her chest-- the knife and her hand bounced away. "However, if I do this slowly and with enough force..."

She tried again, this time the blade slowly pierced through the shield. Irulan stopped short before she could bruise herself.

"Oooooooooo." This is one of the cooler science-fiction-type things that Evie has seen since she arrived. "Do that again!"

Irulan smiled and obliged, it was a game she used to play with her sisters, when Wensicia used to be obliging and not full of bitterness and moodswings.

The knife bounce twice before she stopped. "I wish I can lend you another shield but I have already leant it to another person."

"Oh, that's all right," Evie said absently, watching the light bend around the blade, twisting its appearance as it approached the shield. "I'm such a beginner, I should learn from the beginning. But that's *quite* amazing."

"It is, I never go anywhere without a shield. I would feel naked without it." She sheathed one of the knives, "If you perfect the form we can try a bit of sparring next time. It helps if you apply what you have learned."

"That would be splendid!" Evie bounced again, and went through the form. "Thank you, Irulan. I'm sure this will help enormously."

She bowed, "You are very much welcome."

Gym [March 13, Tuesday Afternoon]

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