The Gym, Monday after first period

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

Maybe it was the dancing on Friday, or perhaps just a sudden need for movement, but whatever the reason River made her way to the gym after her class. Along one of the walls she improvised a series of kicks and punches, interrupted by steps that seemed more like dancing than fighting. She felt still, shutting out the voices, and there was only the present moment.

[It's a very open gym, and River is interruptable]

Comments

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan entered the gym, prepared for a good day's work out and was pleasantly surprised to see River. "River!"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

Words cut through the silence of her mind, and River froze, turning her head. "Irulan." A small smile appeared.

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

"Sorry," Irulan said, "did I interfere with your workout?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Yes. Doesn't matter." She didn't mind Irulan's company.

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

"Are you still willing to cross swords?" Irulan asked.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River gave a nod. "Not the place for real swords or knives though," she said. And she wouldn't want to loose control and accidentally hurt Irulan. "But I can spar with you."

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

"Sparring with you would be an honor," Irulan said and pulling out knives with dulled edges, "would you like a shield belt?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River shook her head. "Never used that," she said, accepting one of the knives, checking the edge. She took a few steps back, weighing the knife in her hand.

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan looked at River, unsure, she had never fought an opponent who had no shielding before. But River seemed so sure, Irulan resolved to be careful then and moved back too, falling into a defensive stance.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River made a sudden lunge at Irulan's arm, the one holding the knife, aiming to knock the knife out of her hand rather than stab her.

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

The sudden movement surprised her and she was almost clipped on the arm, she twisted to the right and made a sweeping blow to River's head.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River ducked, making a crouching kick aimed at Irulan's leg.

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan yelped, felt the shield sparkle and fell on her back but she didn't stay there long. Irulan rolled up and continued the motion, knife blurring in motion to clip River's arm with the flat of the knife.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

Flinging the attacked arm backwards, River thrusted the other at Irulan's chest, twisting her upper body sideways.

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Again, this caught her off guard, Irulan staggered back, and out of instinct proceeded to use the weirding way. She moved as fast as thought and lashed out with a right cross.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

As Irulan suddenly moved with increased speed, River was unprepared and found no other option that to try and grab her arm, aiming to twist it.

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Too concentrated on the forward motion Irulan was unable to expend anymore effort to evade the grab. A sharp pain on her arm stopped her movement and there she held still.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

Holding on to Irulan's arm, River tried pushing her against the floor. "Surrender?"

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan tried to struggle her way out but River's hold was firm. She was breathing hard and her arms hurt.

"I yield," she said, finally.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River immediately released her, taking a few steps back, her face blank.

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Breathing hard and hurting Irulan shook her head in amazement, she stepped forward. "You're an amazing fighter. I see now that my teachers have been going easy on me." She bowed. "Thank you."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"They haven't." River turned away, never quite sure how to deal with compliments of her fighting skills.