The Salle, Saturday Morning

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

James attacked.
He lunged, blocked, parried, sidestepped the expected attack, and lunged again, moving swiftly, bringing the rapier around with a quickness that few could match, the blade slicing through the air as he practiced.
It had been a week since he vanished, sucked into an underw2ater hellhole through a rift, been attacked by crazed not-fully-human monsters (and killed them), and returned to Fandom. Since that time, he had been attacked by a shop clerk and a healer, snapped at by a large crystal and his big sister, and he had somehow lost his...Thursday riding partner.
And so James was in the salle, burning off some pent-up frustration.

[ooc: salle open!]

Comments

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Leda was wandering. Somewhat aimlessly, trying to think of something to do today when she happened upon the Salle.

"Ahoy the practice floor!"

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

James stood up from his lunge and wiped his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt, the sword pointed at the floor. "Ahoy from the floor!" he called back with a gin. "Hello, Leda."

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

"Might you have time for a quick fencing lesson?" she asked. This might be the answer she was looking for as to what to do today.

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

"Of course," he said, standing up, point on the floor. "Do you have any experience in swords? Fighting?"

He wouldn't presume.

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

"Fighting, yes. Mostly with knives. I've had a bit of tutoring in swords, but not much." Strider had begun to teach her, but there was always so much to do when she went to Faerie that progress was slow.

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

"Same basic principles, though swords give you an extra few feet of reach. Dodge, parry, block, attack."

He was in A Mood, but would still help.

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Elves worked hard at hiding their feelings, and as a rule, let other people's feelings be their own business. So she didn't immediately notice anything out of sorts with her friend.

"I'm pretty good at the dodge part." she grinned. Which had helped her immensely in Silent Hill.

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

"Good," he said. "It's easier to not be where the other sword is coming than it is to parry or block."

He talked about the various forms of blocks and attacks, and demonstrated a few, walking through examples slowly, then at a speed slightly slower than most people, then at his normal speed (a bit faster than most people). He also touched on the types of blades and the advantages and disadvantages.

"Training and instinct are your main allies. Of course, luck and a bad opponent help you out far better." This he said with a grin.

"Want to pick up a foil and try the first few forms?" he asked, walking over to put his rapier up and pick up one of the blunted 'safety' foils for himself.

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Leda watched and listened carefully. After mentally going through the moves once or twice, she nodded.

"Sounds good." she said. "Also, your sword appears none the worse for wear having been human."

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

"That is true," he said. "Though the next time I oiled the blade, I was a bit uneasy." He shook his head to clear the image.

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Leda giggled. "I'll bet. If it happens again she might have something to say to you."

She got one of the practice blades and hefted it. One of the first things Strider had taught her was about the balance of the blade. It needed to feel right in your hand. This one did.

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

"The blade must feel true in your hand. Not too heavy, not too light, with a good balance. Grip is important," he said, describing and demonstrating the grip positions. "It's a trade off: power at the cost of maneuverability, maneuverability at the cost of power."

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Leda was wiry, but her speed and quick reflexes were her true advantages she believed.

"I think maneuverability's my strong suit." she said, making sure she had the various grips right.

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

"Mine too, else I'd had a career as a basher instead of pickpocket." Said career was cut short by an assassination attempt (not on him) and a career change (thief to squire).

"If you take this up as something you're interested in instead of a hobby, get used to spending many hours waving that thing around to build up some muscle. It helps to pick up one that's heavier than what you use for the first few weeks, if you can."

Another good way was to practice against the best swordsman in the land wit the sword gifted from him, but not everyone is that lucky.

"Now, the first form..." He started to demonstrate.

[ostianbelle.livejournal.com]

Asuna entered the Salle, she really should have visited this place earlier what would Setsuna say about this oversight! She'd be disappointed, that's what!

"Hi!" Asuna called out to the people in the Salle.

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

"Hello," James responded, nodding at the new girl. A smile flashed across his face briefly. "Are you here for a lesson, too?"

Apparently, instruction was a good method of releasing frustration.

[ostianbelle.livejournal.com]

She shook her head, "I've already had lessons although I wouldn't mind learning more."

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

James muttered something under his breath that sounded something akin to not being an instructor, and straightened up. "Lessons? Let's see." He pointed to the rack of practice foils; spar or single forms, no matter to him.

[ostianbelle.livejournal.com]

"If you don't mind... I'd rather use my own?" Asuna took out her pactio card and summoned the harisen. It was a long, almost sword length steel fan.

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

"I have no idea what that is," he said, looking at it with narrowed eyes.

The summoning was unexpected.

"Can you use it as a sword, to parry and block? Can you attack with it?"

[ostianbelle.livejournal.com]

"That's I've been using this for," she told him. "Don't worry, you don't need to teach me a lot. I already have practical experience with sword fighting."

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

"Fancy a spar, then?" he asked, gesturing with his sword. "Or did you wish to show your moves?"

He had a sinking feeling that while he might have an edge on straight swordplay, she would have a leg up using arcane methods.

[ostianbelle.livejournal.com]

"I'd love a spar!" Asuna grinned, practically bouncing on her toes.

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

"Have at," he said, saluting her with his sword, standing back a bit, waiting for her to lead off.

He reviewed his previous swordfights and training, wondering if there was a special plan for dealing with a large folded piece of metal.

[ostianbelle.livejournal.com]

One of the best ways was possibly to get out of the way, especially when Asuna charged forward slicing downwards. The edge wasn't sharp but it'd hurt to get hit.