Gym, Saturday morning

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

After some coffee to wake up, Dean headed down to the gym and began to make sure things were set up for Karal's self defense lesson. He'd even managed to scrunch up two staffs to start with the weapons.

Now all he needed was a certain sunpriest to teach.

[for said priest, but open for all your workout needs]

Comments

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

After leaving Kerrigan and The Perk, Karal made his way to the gym. He was dressed for riding, so he went straight there, and when he bounded in the door, he was beaming.

Still.

"Good morning, Dean!"

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Dean cocked his head to the side. "So I'm getting the feeling you're a morning person."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I'm used to being up before the sun, so yes?" he replied cheerfully. "I like the mornings, but this one is better than they usually are." He hurried over to stand in front of Dean. "Just tell me what to do!"

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"Well, first off we probably should get an idea of what you already know," Dean said. "So pretend I'm about to rip you in half."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

It was enough to shake him out of his gleeful daze and he sobered, moving back a few steps. He took a deep breath and settled into the stance Kerowyn had taught him, watching Dean warily. "But you won't, yes?"

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Dean grinned. "Course not. And when I'm done with you, hopefully no one else will be able to either."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"That's good, I have a date tonight. I don't want to get ripped in half." He took another breath, then nodded. "I'm ready."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Dean circled around Karal. "Date, huh? Who's the lucky girl? Guy? Girl?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal moved with him, watching him closely, really, really wishing he'd practised since he'd been here. "Girl," he said, blushing a little. "Evey. She's wonderful."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Dean chuckled. "Man, you've got it bad." He feinted a lunge toward Karal but didn't actually follow through.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He ducked sideways, quick and sure-footed, and stopped when Dean did. "I might," he admitted as he watched Dean.

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Dean feinted again, then moved in the other direction, aiming an easy punch at Karal's midsection.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal spun out of the way, ducked back and kept moving, putting as much space between him and Dean as he could.

Even though he trusted Dean not to hurt him, this still made him nervous.

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"Not bad," Dean said, going back to circling him. "You've got good instincts."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He shook his head, not taking his eyes off Dean. "No, Herald Kerowyn is simply very frightening. She was determined I would learn to stay alive, and so I learned. She is the Weaponsmaster in Valdemar, and leads her own mercenary company. She was a good teacher."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Dean grinned. "Sounds like my kind of woman."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal had to chuckle at that, no matter how nervous he was. "I think you would like her very much. If I ever get the chance, I'll take you to Valdemar with me and introduce you."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"That sounds like fun." Dean straightened up. "So you're good at evading. But what about if you're cornered and have to get by someone to get to safety?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Then I'm probably going to die," he said lightly.

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"Wrong answer," Dean said. "Say, you have some information you have to get somewhere so dying isn't an option."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I would do my best to get past him. Does he have a knife?" he asked. "Or some other weapon?"

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"For this senario? Let's just say he's a handsome dude armed only with what god gave him," Dean said with a smirk. "We'll move on to weapons later."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal rolled his eyes at Dean, which oddly made him relax. "I would try and distract him by talking," he tilted his head, trying to apply what Kerowyn had taught him to this scenario, "and convince him I was absolutely harmless and not a threat in the least, which," he added with a wry smile, "should be easy, and then stomp on his foot as hard as I could, try and break it, and then duck past him."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"Could work," Dean allowed. "But say he's wearing steel toed boots."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"They make those?" Karal asked, surprised. "All right, well, does the steel go all the way back, to here." He lifted his foot and pointed to the arch. "Because that's where I'd aim."