The Salle, Monday Morning

[bitchprince]

It had been a week, and the scratches on his back were mostly down to scabs, so Arthur saw no reason not to get in some sword practice again. It hadn't kept him from securing some staffs as well, just in case Jaina was planning to show up.

It'd been a while since he'd been in a decent spar, after all, although the only reason he had suggested this one was because she had magic and hence wouldn't be hurt as easily.

Yes. That was... how he was going to justify thinking she was a capable warrior to himself.

Anyway. All rationalizations and other such thoughts were forgotten as he fell into his first drill, grinning by the time he'd finished it.

[[ ooopen ]]

Comments

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah showed up in a pretty good mood, after a weekend of chilly silliness. "Hey Arthur." She headed straight for the sword rack, and started doing her drill. "You're perky this morning."

[bitchprince]

"I'm not perky," Arthur replied, giving his sword a twirl, "Merely pleased I can get back to my training schedule. Besides," he threw her a look, "You seem to be up to your usual cheer."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Yay for being pleased, then. And why not be cheerful? No injuries at all, I had fun this weekend, and things are just going better." Dinah twirled her sword back at him, and said, "Spar or drill or sticks or staff?"

[bitchprince]

"Spar today," Arthur answered, "I obviously need to cut you down a few."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah rolled her eyes. "'Cause you need your own kind of fun," she said. But hey, she was still smiling as she got into guard stance. Someone else had weird ideas of amusing too.

[bitchprince]

"No," Arthur said, giving his sword the customary twirl, "Because the only way you'll learn is if we keep working at it."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Fine by me." Dinah got ready, eyes lit up. Battle! The gremlin fighting had given her more confidence, and taught her a good bit about how to fight for real, so...

[bitchprince]

"Defensive first," Arthur prompted, "Then we'll see how your offense is doing."

He struck out almost immediately, for her side.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah swept her sword out fast, arcing upward, then bouncing backward.

The Knights at Camelot would be hooting at the energy, but she managed to deflect the blow, so ha.

[bitchprince]

Arthur didn't respond verbally. He simply pressed his attack, following her immediately, sword held low and then suddenly up, up at her other shoulder.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Counter-block! Fast! Well, not quite fast enough to completely deflect it, but this time it was instinctual, not something she had to think about. Which Dinah completely missed-- she was too busy getting ready for the next attack.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin was once more playing around on his iPhone this morning. It was far too early for much else, after all.

YouTube, he found was something vastly entertaining. And gave him odd, if catchy, music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZweDwbJ_Ic&feature=related).

"I wonder how hard it is to put videos up on this..." Yeah, that was a good idea, right?

[bitchprince]

I love how you take my pimping of songs and then pimp them to others.

"...Is this about filming again?"

Arthur had a right to be wary.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin's ears turned red. "No."

[bitchprince]

"All right," Arthur said, a bit suspiciously, and glanced at the phone.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"There are kittens on here," He offered. Because showing Arthur 'Surprised Kitten' was a great idea.

[bitchprince]

"Kittens? I wish I could be surprised," Arthur lamented, "But even vast technological... things aren't going to keep you from being a massive girl."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"It's cute!"

[bitchprince]

"It's cats," Arthur said, helpfully.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"...so?"

[bitchprince]

"Mewling, ugly, vicious, reeking cats," Arthur provided, helpfully, "In tiny form."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"What's so wrong with cats?" Merlin asked. Because the ones that lived in the stables had always liked him. He brought them scraps.

[bitchprince]

"...Do I need to start listing off more adjectives?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"They're sweet and none of the ones you listed."

[bitchprince]

"How many times has one mauled you?" Arthur inquired.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Never!" That would be the owl, Arthur.

[bitchprince]

Oh, please. Like Merlin hadn't gotten attacked by cats in his lifetime. "I'm sure."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

...that was in Ealdor. It hardly counted.

"It's the truth," Merlin insisted.

[bitchprince]

Oh, it definitely counted.

"They do a good job keeping the rat population down," Arthur acquiesced, "But they're hardly cute."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"They can be when they're small." The big toms were... yes, Merlin would be hiding over here, thank you.

[bitchprince]

Merlin had best not mention that, or Arthur would be laughing for a week.

"They're still just cats."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

And Merlin would have to put one in Arthur's closet. Show him.

"And dogs are just dogs."

[bitchprince]

"Dogs serve their own purpose," Arthur lectured, "They are good companions and hunters. Above all, they have discipline and obedience, something you'd never catch a cat in the act of."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"And birds too, I suppose?"

[bitchprince]

"Birds can be taught."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure a cat can if you put in enough effort."

[bitchprince]

"If you think so," Arthur said, loftily, "Why don't you try?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps I will," Merlin replied with just as much dignity as Arthur.

[bitchprince]

"I'll be eagerly awaiting your results," Arthur shot back. "Or rather, your embarrassing failure."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Just because you couldn't manage it..."

[bitchprince]

Arthur shot him a look. "I have never," he said, "Tried to train a cat. It's a fool's errand."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Then I'm sure it would be easy for you," Merlin replied brightly.

[bitchprince]

"I know what you're doing," Arthur insisted, "I'm not letting you talk me into another one of your mad notions."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I would never!" Oh, he so, so would.

[bitchprince]

"You can wrestle the cat, Merlin."