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

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri was far from an expert with a staff anyway, and wouldn't have called him that. She did, however, sidestep easily and comment, "That's a little less style than I'm used to seeing from you."

[momslilassassin]

"Give me a little time," he said with a grin. "It'll take me at least the afternoon before I can kick your butt."

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri heaved an exaggerated, long-suffering sigh. "And by dinnertime you can do it with one hand behind your back?"

[momslilassassin]

"That'd just be rubbing it in," he said.

[weetuskenraider]

"But you probably could, if you wanted to," Tahiri said, feinting at him to see what he'd do.

[momslilassassin]

He didn't move, watching her eyes instead of her feint. "But if I get too good, then you can't teach me any more."

[weetuskenraider]

Of course he wouldn't fall for it; it had been a while since they'd practiced together, but she remembered that much. "Then you'd have to find yourself a new teacher, wouldn't you?" she asked, aiming a sweep at his legs.

[momslilassassin]

Ben leaped over the staff--then flipped over Tahiri just to be a showoff. "But I like you best," he said, sweeping his staff at her head.

[weetuskenraider]

She spun easily in anticipation and brought hers up to block it, putting a little more force than necessary into the motion of the parry in case he wasn't prepared for how the impact would register. "Flattery won't get me to go easy on you," she warned playfully.

[momslilassassin]

Ben grinned back as the staffs made a satisfying smacking sound against each other. "Why would I want you to go easy on me?"

[weetuskenraider]

"Oh, right. Keeping you on your toes." She spun the staff quickly, aiming at his side. "In that case, I'll take the flattery."

[momslilassassin]

"You also have cute toes," he said, blocking her shot.

[weetuskenraider]

"But," Tahiri said, flipping over his head now and trying to sweep his legs again, "I'm still not getting a foot massage, am I?"

[momslilassassin]

"Nope," Ben declared, leaping at her as he avoided her staff's movement. Tackling was probably not on the accepted list of maneuvers.

[weetuskenraider]

Not if you were playing by the rulebook, anyway.

"Hey!" Tahiri burst out, laughing, but she'd brought her staff too far out of line for a block.

[momslilassassin]

Ben tried to sit on her. "You didn't say I couldn't," he said.

[weetuskenraider]

And now she was on the floor, playing the part of a cushion, apparently. "Next time, I'll make sure to be more specific," Tahiri said, mock-glaring up at him.

[momslilassassin]

"No sitting on me, Ben," he said in an absolutely terrible imitation of her voice.

[weetuskenraider]

"I don't sound like that," Tahiri said, and tried to tickle him.

[momslilassassin]

"Sure you do," Ben said, giggling.

[weetuskenraider]

"Do not," Tahiri insisted, trying to squirm away.

[momslilassassin]

"Do too," Ben insisted maturely.

[weetuskenraider]

"Do -- argh!" Okay, she wasn't trying all that hard to get away. "Do not!"

This was such a sophisticated argument.

[momslilassassin]

At some point, Ben might realize this wasn't the most appropriate venue for a tickle fight.

That point...wasn't now.

"Do too," he said, trying to tickle under her ribs.

[weetuskenraider]

"Do not," Tahiri insisted, because it was such an effective line of reasoning. She squirmed, giggling, and tried to get him in the ribs too. That was harder when you were being sat on. "Stop it stop it!"

No, the appropriate-venue thing hadn't occurred to her either, but like that was a surprise?