The Salle, Monday Morning (before classes)

[bitchprince]

Being bruised and battered from the previous night wasn't going to stop Arthur from running his training early. He was, however, careful not to do anything too straining for either his warm-up or his own drills; not slacking off didn't mean pushing yourself to the brink of human endurance like an idiot.

His practice blade cut good time through the air regardless. His muscles stretched and screamed along with the motions - which was only familiar, really.

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[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah hadn't gotten bruised much, last night-- Liir was a dodger, more than a fighter-- but she'd woken up to find that Seregil had struck the Common Room, and she'd lost their bet. Very, very annoying. Cutting things or beating things up might help.

Things were sufficiently better with Arthur to make practice possible and expected, but not better enough not to be a little... weird. So Dinah was sure to get there on time. "Morning." She watched him dubiously a moment, then got out her eskrima sticks. "I can practice on my own this morning. If you want?"

[bitchprince]

Terrific.

"Dinah. You can practice getting out of practice in your own time," Arthur said, finishing his drill with a swing and a careful repression of a flinch. Bruises.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"I wasn't trying to," Dinah protested, putting the sticks back, then stalking over to the practice swords. "I was there last night, you know. I saw your bout with Professor Minsc." Catch her trying to let him off the hook again.

[bitchprince]

"I'm glad you had the chance to witness a proper fight," he said. Getting let off the hook wasn't in Arthur's vocabulary, and even with the tell-tale hints of blue under his skin, his bearing hadn't lessened in any pride.

That would be beyond his dignity and all that. "But I fail to see how that has any bearing on practice."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Never mind." Dinah kept the eye-rolling out of his view, and planted herself in first practice position. "Forget I mentioned it." Was it wrong to remember him getting pounded with a tiny bit of satisfaction? Probably. First position. Second position. Third position. Back-swing. "Glad you weren't too injured."

The weight training had started to pay off; a month's worth of reps had strengthened her muscles to where she could do the drills at normal speed now, without her arms shaking.

[bitchprince]

He'd gone up against a far stronger opponent and gotten a few good punches in. There was no shame in that, nor satisfaction to be had, if anyone asked Arthur. He'd just have to figure out how to take Sir Minsc down on the next attempt - or enlist him. Either way.

Arthur didn't like being beaten, but all it meant was that he'd just have to be better next time.

"I see you've given up on flailing like a chicken," he said, watchful as always. "We might move you up to something actually challenging next week."

He was still a little unsure on the exact dynamics they were labouring under, but he wasn't about to let that show. Firm and in control would have to be it.

[weetuskenraider]

Maybe it had something to do with a message from Kam Solusar this morning, inquiring as to how she was progressing in her training, or maybe it had something to do with just a growing sense of responsibility about her training, but one way or another Tahiri was up bright and early now that Shanie's morning workload is out of the way and headed down to the salle, lightsaber and remotes in hand.

Though, spotting other occupants in the salle, the remote training might have to wait.

"Hi, Arthur," she said, setting the remotes down in a corner.

[bitchprince]

"Tahiri," Arthur greeted. He even managed to cover up his hesitance at the start - no titles for the Jedi, right. With a twirl that wasn't completely meant for practical reasons alone (and that didn't strain his side too much) he finished up his drill. "Up for the morning's training, I see."

[weetuskenraider]

"That's the plan," Tahiri agreed, adding with a touch of guilt, "I haven't been as serious about it as I should be. I need to fix that."

Things were not going well at home. But really, what else was new these days?

[bitchprince]

"You'd be quite right," he said. Sloth and Arthur were not two concepts particularly fond of each other, even if he was something of a picky git about food and drink. "But I'd say making an appearance here can only be a good start." There. That was mercy.

[weetuskenraider]

The fact that Tahiri's only visible reaction to that was a slight narrowing of her eyes hinted at a surprising display of self-control on her part.

"Oh, good. Now that I have your approval my day's really looking up."

Well, she kept the sarcasm out of her tone at least. It was a start.

[bitchprince]

She was a knight, or at least a squire. She should be able to take it.

So he took that remark in stride. "I'm glad you feel that way," he said, his eyes passing down to the lightsaber she'd been holding. "That would be your light blade?" He might actually... have to watch.

Even if it was a little unnerving.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah was finishing up her sword practice when Tahiri came in, and immediately brightened. "Hey, Tahiri. Saw you at the Fight Club last night. How did yours go?"

[weetuskenraider]

"Interestingly," Tahiri said, looking a little less irritated now. She deactivated her lightsaber and clipped it back onto her belt, wiping one sleeve across her forehead. "At least it's nice to know Ichigo doesn't have a problem trying to beat up on people me and Ino's size, I guess. How was your match? Liir isn't exactly the aggressive type, is he?"

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Really not, no. Although I guess that might work with someone who wouldn't suckered into letting him lead them in circles. I still won," which didn't matter as much, against someone like Liir. But still. "But next time maybe he'll fight instead of dodge." She looked woeful. "I wish I could find someone to fight against with powers, though. So far, no takers."

[weetuskenraider]

"You could ask me," Tahiri pointed out with a light chuckle. "It's not like I'm not used to it."

[notyourpawn.livejournal.com]

Alice had a few bruises and scratches from her own sparring match with Anemone. They felt like badges of honour, and she wore them proudly.

"You had quite the match against that other gentleman," she told Arthur calmly. There was nothing quite like a good spar, was there?

[bitchprince]

Somewhere in his heart, Arthur rather agreed.

"Lady Alice," he greeted. "Thank you." Even if Minsc had tenderized him like a piece of meat, it felt like. He swore he could feel his intestines moving. "Sir Minsc is a great warrior."

[notyourpawn.livejournal.com]

"He is," she agreed. "And yourself, as well. Anemone and I opted for a rather less formal approach to matters."

By which she meant there had been hair-pulling and face-scratching. It had been wonderful.

[bitchprince]

"I didn't catch the two of you," he admitted, pacing towards the practice blades as he went. "Who won?" Because that was the most important question.

[notyourpawn.livejournal.com]

"I believe it was a draw," Alice mused. "We each had sufficient injuries; that was pleasant."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Hi, Alice," Dinah said, wiping at her hairline with the back of one wrist, eskrima stick still in hand. "How's Monday treating you so far?"

It wasn't so much that it was early. Just that everything after salle practice on Mondays was almost easy by comparison.

[notyourpawn.livejournal.com]

"It's far too early to have much of an answer," Alice said, lifting her shoulders. "But I've bruises from a match on Sunday, so I suppose that improves the day."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah grinned a little, then looked rueful. "At least you didn't wake up and find out you'd lost a bet in the middle of the night. Who were you fighting yesterday? I was a little too busy to watch much. I don't think I know the girl with the pink hair."

[notyourpawn.livejournal.com]

"How did you lose a bet in your sleep?" Alice asked. "Was the bet concerning your dreams? The pink-haired girl is Anemone. She was my long-lost sibling, one weekend, when we were all not ourselves."