The Salle, Monday Morning

[bitchprince]

It was a Monday.

It had been a normal weekend.

Arthur, ergo, was in the salle, practicing his staffwork for once. He did have a battle with Mat due tomorrow which was going to be pushed towards next week due to a sudden case of the fox, SPOILERS and it wouldn't do to show up in anything but perfect fighting shape.

He made for a few impressive sweeps through the air as he practiced, showing off for his (Merlin-y) audience as usual.

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[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah got there wincing and a little sore from last night's Fight Club. Good fight, though albeit still in SP. "Hey guys," she said, before heading over to her practice sword, looking a little wistful. "I got to use a real sword last week in Fencing Club."

[bitchprince]

"Bring a real sword and you can practice with that," Arthur said, idly, "Provided you don't cut yourself."

He was still in the middle of his drill, though, so he finished the set pattern of almost dancelike maneuvers before continuing.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Really? Yes!" Of course, there was probably a catch there... like sparring with Arthur and getting cut instead, probably. "I'm supposed to be fighting the beginners today. Edward said I'd learn more restraint that way." Which sounded like a good idea, just difficult. She a little nervous about that with live swords.

[bitchprince]

"That's a good lesson," Arthur agreed, wandering towards her with the staff in hand. "Actually, I think restraint is something you have to learn in general."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah stuck out her tongue at him, kind of proving his point. "I can restrain myself," she insisted, then looking thoughtfully at the staff. "Most of the time I just don't feel like it... Besides, winning without going all out seems kind of counter-intuitive. Staffs today?"

[bitchprince]

"Sometimes restraint is the only thing that stands between you and worse fates in battle," he said, giving his staff an idle flick. "For me, yes, but I was thinking we'd return to the sword. Unless you're feeling unsteady in your abilities elsewhere."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah restrained an eyeroll, but still looked unconvinced. "No, I had a good eskrima practice with Tahiri last week. All-out." Because that helped, see? "Swords are good." She stretched a little with hers, then got into guard position, trying not to bounce. Much.

[bitchprince]

Arthur ignored her for a moment or two. He swept a look over at the practice swords, then dismissed them-- instead, he suddenly lashed out with the staff, a simple blow aimed towards her shoulder, seeing if he could catch her off guard.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Ah!" No, she hadn't been expecting that, so her response wasn't as fast as it should've been, clumsy and low. Although she wasn't so unprepared that it got all the way through, her arm stung from the impact, and she backed up, eyes wide. "Hey!"

[bitchprince]

"It's been months, and you still have shoddy reaction time," Arthur judged, settling into an actual fighting position this time, the quarterstaff upright in his hands. "Come on, then."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah turned red and managed to exercise some of that self-restraint in not saying Bite me, then grimly muttered, "Head in the game," and started to circle, sword up at guard, footwork correct. Looking for the next opening or next move there, aware that Arthur had way more reach with the staff.

[bitchprince]

"You're not always going to be able to face an enemy blade to blade," he said, circling along with all the grace of a big cat toying with some prey, "So you might as well try to work out some tactics that take that into account."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah swallowed, and nodded, brow furrowing. What would help? Getting him off-balance-- but harder to reach him with just a sword. Except-- Right. She switched directions suddenly, a step back, faster than before. Thank God for all that training with Azula, that her speed was improving. What else...?

[bitchprince]

"Don't let the fact that a sword can cut through a staff get in the way," he instructed, "It's easy to underestimate someone armed with one until they've already disarmed you."

His staff shot out towards her sword-bearing hand. Just lightly. He wasn't putting in his full effort.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah was on guard this time, and slashed out, putting most of her strength behind the return blow, hoping he'd lose his grip. "The staff's longer, but takes more effort to balance, doesn't it?" she asked, eyes still on him, switching directions again, as fast as she could. "Going for the arms is smarter?" Another slash, to test that theory, although she was pretty sure Arthur would block it.

[puppy_fair]

Zack felt like perhaps he ought to still be in bed. In bed, and perhaps never getting out of bed again, because that would be absolutely productive, right? And that was why he was in the Salle today.

It made sense, by Zack-logic, if you squinted sideways at it.

He was... kinda moving slowly today, swinging his sword and going through the motions of something not unlike practise, but his head was completely not there, and so it took him all of five minutes before he just gave up entirely.

Nope. Not happening.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

There really wasn't much to say that hadn't been said last night, but still. Zack looked like he needed another hug. Like an RDA thing.

So there was Zack, getting hugged again, hard. No words.

[puppy_fair]

Dinah totally must have had a sixth sense for boys-in-need-of-hugs, because wow, Zack totally needed one just then, too.

And when that hug was through, he smiled at her a little. That had helped.

"Thanks," he said. "I think I needed that."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Welcome." See, now there was a superpower to have! "Any time, you know."

[puppy_fair]

"I don't think I'll ever turn down a hug," Zack replied, giving her a little nod. "Same goes right back, okay? If you ever need hugs?"

He was pretty good at them. And not just because he had biceps like tree trunks.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Count on it." Dinah smiled wider at him. "And cookies!"

[puppy_fair]

"Hugs and cookies," he agreed, trying on a little grin for size. "They're both important."

[bitchprince]

"That would be an effective way of disarming your opponent," he said, dryly, daring back. No blocking.

[bitchprince]

Yes, there was sloppy, and then there was 'upset knight trying to do himself in', and Arthur did know the difference, thanks. On a generic level, anyway. Not that Zack was trying to do himself in, but-- "Zack," he called, pausing his staffwork accordingly. "Slacking off?"

We never said it'd be a particularly sensitive noticing.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah made a face at that, but kept both hands on her sword, watching Arthur for an opening. She feinted to the left, then slashed up, striking for his wrists.