The Salle, Friday Afternoon

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy had been getting handwavy lessons in knifework from Eliot for several months now and she was starting to get pretty good at it. They still spent more time sparring with markers than they did with even practice blades, but she had fewer and fewer streaks of ink across her skin and clothing when they finally broke for the day. So--progress?

While Kathy had yet to figure out how to practice actual knifework by herself (save for practicing reversing her grip until her wrists hurt), a lot of her lessons were actually teaching her a martial art--Krav Maga, she thought. Unleashing a flurry of strikes or kicks would do her just as much good in a knife fight as whipping a knife around--and possibly more, considering Kathy wasn't sure she'd actually be able to use a knife on a real person. Not unless she was trying to save someone else, too, probably. So Eliot seemed to mostly be teaching her the most brutally efficient way to take down someone who was holding a knife and only some of those lessons actually involved using a knife of her own.

Which, honestly, Kathy was pretty okay with.

Today her assignment was to practice her kicks and strikes while pulling her knife out and changing her grip on it--without losing the rhythm of her strikes or dropping the knife.

"One-two-three-dammit!" It was harder than it sounded.

Comments

[flickofthewrist]

"Not sure dammit is a really good battle cry," Flick said as he ambled in. "Might be a pretty big indicator to whoever you're trying to stab."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Dropping my knife is probably even worse tactics," Kathy said with a sigh, leaning down to pick her knife back up. "I still have a chance of stabbing someone if I just say dammit."

You know. Possibly.

[flickofthewrist]

"They might laugh which would be a damn good distraction for you to stab them," Flick agreed. "Planning on stabbing some people soon?"

[spin_kick_snap]

"Not planning on it?" Kathy said, giving him a sheepish smile. "But it's good to know that I could if I had to, you know? It's like picking locks. I don't have any need for it, but I like knowing how to. So, umm, thank you for that?"

[flickofthewrist]

"Only use it for good," he joked, leaning against a wall and looking around. "And if you don't use it for good, I don't know you."

[spin_kick_snap]

"I promise to never reveal my sources, even under advanced interrogation," Kathy promised solemnly. "Besides, if I did, my little sister would never forgive me."

[flickofthewrist]

"Ah, so I'm under the protection of your little sister?" He sounded amused and looked it as well. "Can't say I mind that. As long as she's around, my secrets are safe."

He didn't think Kathy would tell anyone but he could tease.

[spin_kick_snap]

"Well, of all of us, Sarah is definitely the most intimidating," Kathy said, laughing. "If you have to be under anyone's protection, it's probably best if it's hers."

[flickofthewrist]

"You should tell her I've made her my official bodyguard," he suggested. "But she'll have to stay where she is because she's better from long distances. The thought of her makes people stay away."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Oh yeah, because telling her that won't start some kind of sisterly battle," Kathy snarked. "There's no way a thirteen year old girl is going to take 'the thought of you makes people stay away' as complimentary."

[flickofthewrist]

"It's meant in a good way!" Flick promised. "Like...she's that intimidating. I don't know, I tried to make it sound good. It sounded good in my head."

[spin_kick_snap]

"You don't have a lot of experience talking to adolescent girls, do you?" Kathy laughed.

[flickofthewrist]

"Didn't really have the need to learn," he said, shrugging. "I spent most of my adolescent years either alone or in military school."

[spin_kick_snap]

"I'll happily rent you a little sister so you can practice," Kathy offered. "I'll even cut you a break on her, too, because you've been a great roommate."

All heart there, Kathy.

[flickofthewrist]

"I'm about to head off the island," he pointed out, "to a country that's apparently pretty xenophobic. Probably best she stay with you."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Keeping Sarah off the island isn't a terrible idea," Kathy said. "But the xenophobia bit miiiiight be pushing it. Where are you going? I didn't know you were planning on leaving the States."

Not that the US couldn't be xenophobic in its own right...but last time Kathy and Flick had talked about what the future would hold for him, he'd mentioned staying in NYC to be near his mom.

[flickofthewrist]

"Just temporarily," he told her. "Not permanently. I've gotten an opportunity that I can't really pass up. I'll be in Isabelle's country for a little while. She'll be here."

[spin_kick_snap]

Showed what Kathy knew about Flick's elusive girlfriend; she'd assumed Isabelle was American, too. Clearly, she had a lot to catch up on!

"She's not going with you?" Kathy asked, confused. "To...where?"

[flickofthewrist]

"I don't know if I can really tell you too much but she'll be there sometimes," Flick said, shrugging. "She's gonna be here to keep an eye on my mom while I'm there. But, I'll be back."

[spin_kick_snap]

"...You can't tell me what country you'll be living in?" Kathy asked, confused. "Are you gonna be...umm, I mean, you're not...You'll be okay, right?"

Look, her brain didn't immediately jump to assumptions about magical countries and legions of super-secret demon-hunters. Not when there was 'ill-conceived criminal enterprises' she could worry about instead!

[flickofthewrist]

"You wouldn't have ever heard of the country," Flick told her, shaking his head. "And yeah, I'll be fine. I'm not going on any death defying mission. Just taking a chance on something. I'll be safe. I will be back."

[spin_kick_snap]

"I...wouldn't have heard of it?" Kathy asked, looking highly unconvinced. "Is it some tiny country tucked away in the Balkans or something?"

[flickofthewrist]

"You have to trust me on this," Flick implored her. "You wouldn't have heard of it and it's something I can't pass up. It's not bad and I'll be back before you know it."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Of course I trust you," Kathy said immediately. "I might think it's weird? But I trust you. And I know you wouldn't do anything you didn't think was right."

He'd grown and changed a lot since she'd first ended up rooming with him. And Isabelle had been a big part of that, she was sure. "Do you think you'll be able to tell me about it someday?"

[flickofthewrist]

"Probably." He just wanted to keep it on the down low until Isabelle told him it was official and that he could tell. "It's just preliminary right now. Rest assured, I'll tell you first thing when I'm able. I just don't wanna mess anything up."