The Salle, Monday Morning

[bitchprince]

The lack of classes meant Arthur would be spending more time in the salle than usual (if that was even possible), and he hadn't wasted too much time getting there that morning. His arm was coming along nicely, and so he took a practice blade for his left.

Might as well get some simple drills in while he waited.

[[ and open, but mild sp warning ]]

Comments

[bitchprince]

"You've been slacking on your staffwork?" Arthur asked her, on cue. Whether that had been what she was waiting for or not, it went with a teacher's disappointment.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Only a little! Just the basic drills." And okay, not as much. Swords had been shiny and all. "There hasn't been anyone to practice it with, I keep forgetting to ask Tahiri." And she hadn't wanted to bug him about that before now. "So, you know. Not learning anything new there, really."

[bitchprince]

Oh, they were going to play that game. "If you've got something to ask," Arthur said, eying her, "Spit it out."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Can you teach me some new staff drills and offense work?" Dinah asked, glad of the opening. "I know you're forming up the reserve, and I know you're already teaching me sword-work, but. Please? If you have time?"

[bitchprince]

She was just lucky Arthur was vain self-aware enough to know she'd definitely seek his help. "I'm sure I can find some time," he said, "But not on Monday mornings. I need your attention on that blade."

Arthur was chomping at the bit, yes.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Okay! Thank you! Ha. You rock!" Yes! Dinah bounced and resumed her drill, concentrating on her footwork after chatting with Ben a little while on how to do it. It was all about the balance, really, if you could just realize what helped maintain that, you were set.

After a bit, she added, "Thanks for helping Tony last week, with the hand-to-hand stuff. I don't want him getting hurt either." Step, step, cross, step.

[bitchprince]

"He volunteered for the reserve," Arthur said, rather than acknowledging the actual thank you because that would be strange; he'd taken the responsibility on himself, after all. "He won't be much help if he doesn't know how to defend himself."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"He's good at magic, and he saved me during the zombie invasion," Dinah felt compelled to add. "He just doesn't have much fight experience." She bounced a little, then re-focused. "We're going to spar a bit, so he can get in more practice." Slice, across, upward, keep the elbow in, don't speed up until you've got it perfect.

[bitchprince]

"So he told me," Arthur said, a bit dryly, "Exploding trees, it seems." He hung back, watching her progress. "He'll get there." Or at least learn how to run away and hide properly. Either or.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"And I didn't get to watch?" Dinah said, dismayed. "Oh, I'm so poking him about that." New magic tricks had to be shown off! She would have vehemently defended Tony's bravery if Arthur had said any of that aloud, so maybe just as well he hadn't. She paused, realizing Arthur had referred to magic without any sign of upset, and returned to concentrating on her swordwork for a bit while she processed that.

Close to the end of the drill, she cautiously said, "So. Organizing all available resources?" She was just curious. To make sure she knew where he stood with that now, at least regarding other people.

[bitchprince]

"Someone has to," Arthur said, with a well-calculated, idle neutrality. "Keep your mind with your feet," he added, to dissuade her from the subject, "You're slipping yet again."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Attention back on the drill, Dinah turned that over in her head, starting to feel the burn in her muscles. Not tired yet, though. High block, low parry, middle thrust, low block, middle parry, high cut. Feet: first, second, side (Ben was right, you just had to think about it in order, then do it 'til you didn't have to think), forward, back, side, second, first. "Someone doesn't have to be you," Dinah dared, not looking at him.

[bitchprince]

"Well, no one else is," he said, matter-of-factly, could they please get off the subject? "Can you pay attention to what you're doing before you put an eye out?"

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Sure," Dinah chirped. And on and on with the drill.

Making Arthur uncomfortable about doing responsible, in-charge things might seem like a weird kind of teasing, but it worked for her.

[bitchprince]

Yes, because what Arthur needed was more of a reminder as to how he was never going to be the son his father wanted him to be (because he couldn't).

Glad for the relative silence, Arthur returned to his previous position, passing comment here and there and making adjustments to her form where needed.