The Salle, Friday afternoon

[firebringerborn.livejournal.com]

After asking around, Jan had found out where the students practised with their swords not dirty. It seemed to him that it would be a perfect place for him to practice his hornsmanship.

His stitches still itched, but the cuts were healed and he was sick of taking it easy.

The floor of the Salle felt odd under his hooves, springy, and it made a hollow sound as he paced around it, to make sure he knew exactly where the walls were. (He really didn't want to put a hoof through one.)

Satisfied, he squared up and swung at the practice dummy, danced back, and started to work in earnest, ducking and dodging and striking out with his horn. The dummy wasn't much of a challenge, but it was still important to practice.

[ooc: I like making up words! Open, of course, and Jan would love someone to fence with.]

Comments

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

Dancing earlier today had Firekeeper in a mood to do something physical. Something more than just sitting around and watching television. And with Blind Seer off hunting in the preserve, she was left to her own devices, which meant exploring.

And finding the Salle, apparently.

"Jan!" she called out cheerfully, pleased to find her friend here. "Hello!"

[firebringerborn.livejournal.com]

"Firekeeper!" Jan cried happily, prancing happily over to her. "It's good to see you."

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"And you as well," Firekeeper replied. "I haven't seen much of you outside of class, lately," she added apologetically.

[firebringerborn.livejournal.com]

"I've been spending a great deal of time in the woods," Jan said apologetically, moving to nose her shoulder. "Training and trying not to pull my stitches. Are you well? And Blind Seer?"

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"My friend Doc would always yell at me for doing too much after an injury. Clearly, you're smarter than I," Firekeeper replied. "We're both well. Blind Seer felt the need to go hunting, though. And I have a job! And we danced, today, in class!" Yes, she was still pleased about that.

[firebringerborn.livejournal.com]

"I have a job as well! At Turtle's store, and I might be helping by taking people's things home," he said happily. "What sort of dancing did you do?"

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"I'm not exactly sure. It wasn't like any of the human dances I learned back home, that's for sure. The music was very strange." It had also been her first real introduction to this world's idea of music. She wasn't entirely sure what she thought of it.

[firebringerborn.livejournal.com]

Jan ears flicked forward and back. "You could show me! And then I can show you how I dance."

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"Only if you promise not to laugh," Firekeeper insisted. She had a feeling she'd look much sillier without a partner than she had with one.

[firebringerborn.livejournal.com]

"I would never laugh," he promised solemnly, lowering his head to look at her earnestly from under his forelock.

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"Okay then," Firekeeper's expression brightened, and she took a deep breath before starting to repeat the steps she and Ichigo had done in class. It did, indeed, look very silly with one person instead of two. Not that the original dance had been much better. But at least they'd had music then. "Well?" she asked tentatively, once she'd done.

[firebringerborn.livejournal.com]

"You moved your feet well," he said thoughtfully. "I could see that it was supposed to be done with another, but still, it was good footwork."

Ears tilted to the side, he tried to mimic what she'd done.

Very, very badly.

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

He'd kept his promise and not laughed, and so she wouldn't either. "Try bringing your left foreleg forward on the first beat, like this," she attempted to demonstrate as best she could given she only had two legs to Jan's four.

[firebringerborn.livejournal.com]

Jan did as she showed him, whickering at himself, because he was awkward. "This would be easier in a bigger space," he decided.

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

Firekeeper grinned, dancing along with him this time. "I don't think this place is made for dancing," she agreed.

[firebringerborn.livejournal.com]

"Not this sort," he said, snorting in amusement, ears pricking forward as he matched his steps to hers. Or tried to, anyway. "We should go outside, where there is room to move and I won't put a hole in the wall by mistake."

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"I wouldn't want to have to explain *that* to this place's Ones," Firekeeper laughed. "So, outside, then?"

[firebringerborn.livejournal.com]

He bobbed his head, and clopped over to the door, nosing it open and pushed through. Once he was outside on the grass, he breathed a sigh of relief. "There is plenty of room here," he called, doing a quick sidepass for the fun of it.

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

Firekeeper clapped in delight and followed him through. "And now do I get to see your dances?" she asked.

[firebringerborn.livejournal.com]

By way of answer, Jan pranced across the grass, throwing his front legs out as far as he could, then spun on his rear legs and danced back, tail held high, pulling up short with his ears pricked forward.

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"...I don't think I could do that," Firekeeper said, watching wide-eyed. And trying to squash the voice deep inside her that wished for a proper four legs and a tail.

[firebringerborn.livejournal.com]

"Only two legs," he said thoughtfully, then cocked one ear out. "We must be able to shape it for your legs if we work on it."

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"Do you think so?" Firekeeper asked, being careful not to sound too hopeful and her mun headed off for sleep rly rly for reals this time.

[firebringerborn.livejournal.com]

"I know so," he replied firmly, and stretched out his nose to nuzzle her.