fandomhighdorms | The Salle, Monday Morning

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The Salle, Monday Morning

Arthur was up bright and early to get back at it, of course - it wasn't that Monday was the only day he ever practiced (please, he'd never be able to keep his form) but it was a good start to the day, especially after a night at Fight Club.

Let's disregard the fact that 'a night at Fight Club' generally meant 'a morning with a few bruises', shall we, and move on to the bit where Arthur was running high on aggressive drills this morning, perhaps occasionally incorporating the odd off move to deal with the sort of moves used the previous night.

He would take a break eventually, if simply to turn to Merlin and get a few good quips in. What? He was witty.

[[ open salle is open. up late due to life-eating ]]

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Merlin was polishing armor. Again. Really he wasn't even sure how it managed to get dirty so quickly.

Arthur must has strange skills.

Strange and awesome skills.

Even if he fretted more about them than he would generally really admit to-- people who weren't currently in this room, and with considerable effort to those who were. Anyway. "Merlin," he called, finishing up, and deciding this was a good opportunity to wander that away.

"Yes, Arthur?" Merlin replied, glancing up from his work.

Arthur was going to take a moment to gauge whether or not he really cared about the upcoming topic of conversation, and found, to some distress, that he actually did. "Did you talk to her yet?"

So much for the snappy responses he'd been hoping for. Oh well. At least it was an excuse to sit down.

Monday morning as usual, without too many bruises from Fight Club, Dinah was there, thinking about today's Fencing Club meeting in the afternoon, and trying to decide what she was going to do until then.

"Hey, Merlin. Morning, Arthur." She picked out her sword, and started her drills, with an extra amount of bounce. "Have fun fighting Mr. Deadpool Saturday?" If she'd known about the swordfight in advance, she so would have been there cheering him and Zack on.

"It was... interesting." If by interesting, you meant 'proof that Zack and Lord Deadpool were both completely out of their minds' and also 'ow'. "I didn't know Vice Principal Deadpool had healing magics, but I suppose it figures..."

He idly lowered his sword, and cast her a look as she got to work.

"He does?" Dinah blinked, momentarily distracted, then frowned and went back into one of the footwork exercise that Edmund had brought up during last Fencing Club. "Hunh. Zack mentioned accidentally giving him a potion once---" And then Mr. Deadpool stripping, but not in a come-on way, but still, eeeek. "But I guess he didn't need it much then? Do you think he could teach it to anyone else?" Because superhealing like that, or Claire's? Awesome.

"...I think it just comes with being Vice Principal Deadpool," Arthur said, diplomatically, "But I haven't asked, and it's not really my area of expertise."

A pause, as he observed her feet.

"Oh," Dinah said sadly. If the price of healing was being crazy (-er) than she probably didn't want it. Oh well. She set her feet again, and noticed Arthur paying attention, and did the next drill, step-guard-lunge, and said, "Did I ever thank you for not laughing at me for wanting to learn swords?"

"No," Arthur said, squinting at her, "But it's fairly straightforward." Beat. "And of course you're grateful."

That beat had been slightly too long to make that last part sound completely genuine, but he was going to be manly about accepting thanks when it really just made him feel awkward. "And you wanted to learn."

"Hey, Merlin. What did you guys cover in Magic Reserves last week?" Dinah asked curiously. "I was hoping I'd get to stop by in time, but Gun Club ran later than I thought it would."

"Yeah, I know. You'll teach anyone who really wants to get it." Dinah made a face at the pro forma arrogance. This was making her mildly uncomfortable too, but it needed to be said. "I was sparring with Turtle last week, though. And she's just starting, has no clue what she's doing, and I had to fight not to facepalm or laugh at the mistakes she made, and I know some of them were my mistakes, so.... thanks." Step-parry, step-guard, step-slice.

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Laughing never improved anyone's stance or their moves," he said, "As a teacher, there's some responsibility to be had."

Watch Arthur. Watch Arthur sidestep the 'thanks' issue. "Now, that's not one of mine, so I'm taking that King Edmund has been teaching you some more much-needed footwork." Sidestep harder, Arthur.

"Yeah, but..." A lot of people wouldn't get that he wouldn't do that, or how difficult it might be. Or that Dinah had found herself imitating Arthur while talking to Turtle, minus the mock-insults. "Anyway. It was interesting."

She looked from her feet to his face and stuck out her tongue. Azula got dignity because she wasn't going to let the other girl out-mature her; Arthur would get whatever she felt like giving him. "Yes. Several. That was last week's thing, before the sparring. I think the club's going to help me think outside the box for this."

Arthur was going to ignore that stuck-out tongue because it was below him to acknowledge it, thanks. "At least you'll get to face multiple opponents," he said, ignoring what felt like a slight crack at his teaching skills because, again, there were more important things to deal with, like making sure she was a decent fighter. "Tell me who you fight and what you've learned every week."

Which weirdly worked in with Edmund's attitude that Arthur was her teacher, and he should be the one she asked questions of. She couldn't even argue that he didn't put a 'please' on that, because it sounded like interest, not being a control-freak. "Edmund said to ask you about when I'd be ready to learn another kind of blade, maybe. I don't want to get stuff confused, but there's a lot of new cool ones there." Side-footwork now, back, forward, back, forward.

"Depends on what kind of blade you've got your eyes on," he said, idly, "Then I'll see about an estimate."

He threw in a few comments here and there, but at least the worst of her errors had gone and smoothed over over the past few months.

"A katana would be pretty awesome. Although, some of the others looked useful, the cutlass and all. I'll stick with this one," she gave her sword a twirl of the wrist, "For Fandom. But I'd like to know how to face anything. Just in case someone gets cute with blades when I get back to New Gotham."

Merlin looked up, nodding once at that. "Yesterday."

Arthur rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Well," he said, "What did she say?"

"I'm not much for the katana," Arthur said, after a moment or two, "But I've been thinking about asking Vice Principal Deadpool for some instructions... We'll see about it once you stop falling over your own toes."

That got him another glare, and a muttered, "Haven't done that in ages... Azula's training's going to help with that." A pause. "I think." Because damn it wasn't easy. "If I don't smack her at some point."

"Experience in combat with our powers," Merlin replied, blinking up at her.

"If you feel inclined to smack her, do so," Arthur said, with little sympathy. "The last thing a student needs is bad habits. Or a bad teacher."

Yes, he was never going to be overfond of Dinah studying with Azula.

"Nuts. I could've used that." Dinah frowned, torn as usual. "Maybe I should be going to Reserves all the time, instead of switching with Gun Club... but I need that too." On the other hand, she could practice with guns on her own, or get Triela to help her. Hmmmm. "Anyway. Going there this week, no matter what. Even if there's more egg throwing."

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The Salle, Monday Morning

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