The Salle, Monday Morning

[bitchprince]

It was a Monday. Arthur was training. The weekend had been... normal. These were all good ingredients for a decent morning, if you asked him, and since he was the only person in the room who was currently involved in narrative, damn straight you were asking him. Or something.

Practice was quick and fierce today, combining his natural discipline with more than a measure of fire as he went through some of his more intense attack drills.

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Comments

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah would have completely agreed on it being a good morning, if you were asking her, too. No longer crazy, no longer having to deal with other people's crazy, and a week away from going home for vacation.

"Didja get bruised on the bike this weekend?" she asked, considering, then heading for the sword first. Eskrima after. That way she'd hopefully be non-hyper for her first exam this morning.

[bitchprince]

"I'll have you know I came out well and in one piece," he said, lightly, "As befitting someone of my stature and training." He gave his sword a flick.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Meaning you could reach the ground and so you didn't fall off?" Dinah teased, then started her pattern of blocks and parries. "Well, that's good, then."

[bitchprince]

Arthur rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "We don't need to listen to you whine about your height problems," he said, regardless of her actual height.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah stared at him, then stuck out her tongue and snorted. "I'm only three or so inches shorter than you!" She guessed. Wasn't like she'd measured. "So, did you like it?" High. Low. Side, cut.

[bitchprince]

"It was fun," he said, hanging back to watch her practice for a moment or two. "It's a very powerful vehicle."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Helena's is awesome. She won't buy me one." Showing that even Helena had some sanity. "Not that I could really ride it much here, but still." Slash downward! "Are you going to get one, or stick to horses for the duration?" And if he did, where would he be leaving it, hmm?... Not that she'd 'borrow' it. But she could go stare at it and wish!

[bitchprince]

"I doubt I'd get much use out of a permanent motorcycle, entertaining as it would be," Arthur said, "Maybe a car if the need arises. Also, Helena seems a woman of sound mind."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Just because she's older," Dinah grumbled. Someday. Someday. "So, no jumping over cars just yet?" She feinted toward him suddenly, sure he would block it.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin's morning today was training of his own kind. Reading was totally training. Really.

It was a lot of spells to learn still, alright?

But, of course, he was in the salle to keep an eye on things anyway.

[bitchprince]

"How's the reading coming along?" Arthur asked, a little while along, flopping back onto the bench for five minutes of relaxation.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I need to keep up with practicing." So maybe he'd gotten a little lax.

[bitchprince]

Arthur shot him an amused look. "Afraid you'll lose your edge?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Aren't you?"

[bitchprince]

"Of course not," he said, "I have the discipline to continue my training." Nerve: hit.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin's jaw set slightly. "And that's why I'm reading. And meeting with Lady Ghanima."

[bitchprince]

Arthur made a vaguely agreeing noise-- "Good. Because I'm not slacking off. Keeping up perfectly well with my training, as you can tell."

Insecurities? What insecurities?

...You might want to stop talking if you want that denial to keep up, Arthur.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I know, Arthur."

Merlin shook his head, closing the book after carefully marking the page. "I think I might ask Lady Ghanima to move further in our work."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Feeling better?" Dinah asked, checking in, and giving him a totally, completely commiserating look of, You were not the only person who wanted to drown themselves after last week.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"As long as nothing happens again any time soon..." Damn you, Fandom.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah reached over and knocked on the wooden part of the practice dummy. "Here, here. I wish someone had dragged me away from Sam the way you got dragged off at Magic Reserves." Although maybe not so publicly. "Maybe the Island will have mercy 'cause it's Finals week? Then I'm outta here, at least."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"You're leaving?"

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Just for a week or so, to visit my family," Dinah corrected herself. "I'll probably be back right after New Year's, when the next crop of students show up. Ino and I were thinking of handing out maps them with handy places to hide in case of invasion marked."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"To the dorms and Caritas?"

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"And the clinic. And other places that just have good hiding spots," Dinah said. "Also just so they can find the pizza." Mmmmm. Pizzzzzza.