The Salle, Monday Morning

[bitchprince]

It had been very, very, very good for Arthur's nerves - not that he ever had nerves, thank you - to come home to an empty dorm room last night. He hadn't known where Leto was, nor had he particularly cared, and instead he'd abused the new space to get a chance to breathe.

The last week had made a fine attempt to do his head in. Arthur was, of course, better than that, and when he arrived at the salle that morning he was feeling remarkably fresh for the first time in far too long.

Starting in on an intermediate drill, he took the time to enjoy the fact that his muscles were finally moving properly again. God help them all: Arthur was actually feeling chipper.

The only thing that interfered with that at all was the thought that he was, at some point, going to have to talk to Leto in a way that didn't involve shouting.

[[ open like the salle is! ]]

Comments

[bitchprince]

There was also a moment where his mind was strick with the fact he'd just hit a girl, but on the other hand, it was a spar; like the ones with Morgana.

Although Arthur hadn't been a full knight, then.

That, and the force of his previous blow, was enough to put him off that by the time he'd moved to strike at her, low again - and her back - she'd already executed her move.

[formerbrat.livejournal.com]

Since she was already down low, she kicked out her right leg and kept moving, hoping to catch his ankles and bring him down with the leg sweep.

[bitchprince]

He really should have gone for the bodyslam.

This is where underestimating people got you, Arthur: on the floor.

[formerbrat.livejournal.com]

Elspeth leapt up and attempted to put a foot on the wrist of his sword arm in order to pin it to the ground while she brought the tip of her practice sword up to his neck.

[bitchprince]

Arthur was still a little too busy being astonished by being on the floor to really protest.

He stared up at her, expression half-surprise, half-rage, and didn't say anything.

[formerbrat.livejournal.com]

"Do you yield?" she asked sweetly, her sword still pointed at his throat.

[bitchprince]

Well, now here was a situation Arthur hadn't been in since he was twelve. His unpinned hand was held up in an unconscious whoa, whoa position.

Pride (which definitely said no) and honour (which definitely said yes) fought each other for a short while. "...Yes," he said, finally.

He had learned a few lessons about pride. He was also still pissed-off as hell, mostly at himself.

[formerbrat.livejournal.com]

Elspeth smiled and stepped off his wrist. She tucked her sword into her belt (since she had no sheath and Alberich would kill her if she tossed aside even a practice blade) and offered Arthur a hand up.

[bitchprince]

That was still a little too much (but then again, Arthur was like that any time he was defeated in this manner) and so he pushed up to his feet by himself. He opened his mouth to say something like you're not telling anyone about this, then closed it again before the words actually made it out.

He breathed harshly with some anger instead.

[formerbrat.livejournal.com]

"You shouldn't underestimate your opponent based on appearance," Elspeth said, as if she were talking to one of the younger students back home. "It can get you killed."

[bitchprince]

"I know that," Arthur snarled. He wasn't fond of the tone.

Of course, then honour kicked in, and he offered her a very grudging hand.

[formerbrat.livejournal.com]

Elspeth shook his hand. "I'd welcome a rematch if you ever want to try again," she said.

[bitchprince]

Some part of Arthur visibly bristled right beneath the surface.

But when he dropped his hand, he said, "A rematch we'll have," short, curt, but definitely an allowance.

[formerbrat.livejournal.com]

"I look forward to it," Elspeth said, and returned to working with the practice dummy.

[bitchprince]

Arthur turned around, and not so much worked with as viciously eviscerated his own.

That had not just happened. And he'd kill any squirrel who claimed otherwise.