text; un: magicowl

[getting_better]

Name: Bishop
Date: 7/31
Format: Text

I'll keep this brief, I need sparring partners. Martial arts, swords, spears, fire arms, fucking silverware, I don't care. I'm starting to feel rusty and I need to shake it off, preferably now. This isn't a quest but I'm willing to compensate you for your time. Anyone will do my only condition is don't hold back.

Have a nice day.

Comments

[getting_better]

A person who's been attacked while eating. It happens.

[ However terrible and incredibly rude. Good thing his reply to such situations is stabbing the assailant in the eye with a spoon. ]

[fairyherder]

That's why you always carry weapons with you, obviously.

[ no matter that it's pretty impressive to be able to use silverware for battle. ]

[getting_better]

Why bother wasting ammo and movement when I could just use what's already in my hand? Anything is a weapon if you get creative and know where to strike.

[fairyherder]

What's "ammo"? ... and I guess that's true.

If you want to spar, I can do that. I use swords and a bow.

[getting_better]

It's short for ammunition, but I digress. Are you available now?

[fairyherder]

I am, yes. Where do you spar?

[getting_better]

The northern gate and up on the wall. There's a space there that the guards let folks use to train. Just tell them you're looking for Bishop and they'll guide you up.

[fairyherder]

All right.

[ he'll head over there, then. did you expect a teenager to show up? that's what happens anyway. he's dressed in gold robes and looks as much as the peacock that he is. he's carrying an ornate sword, a bow strapped to his back. ]

Are you Bishop?

[getting_better]

[ He was in the middle of practicing some forms with his katana, nothing particularly fancy but just complex enough to help him focus and stretch his muscles. ]

That's me.

[ He relaxes as he eyes person who arrived, noting their youth along with their robes with a furrowed brow. ]

Are you here for the sparring session?

[fairyherder]

[ he's about to snap back "yes, obviously. what else?" but instead he nods, looking around at the area before back at Bishop. ]

I'm Jin Ling.

[getting_better]

[ He was afraid that he was.]

Nice to meet you. For professionalism sake, I'm called Bishop.

[ But now onto more pressing matters. ]

You're quite young looking. How old are you?

[fairyherder]

Yes, you already mentioned your name.

[ he frowns slightly. ]

I'm almost sixteen. Why?

[getting_better]

Sixteen...

[ He thinks for a moment if he should even continue with this person, but they are just sparring and not exactly a fight to the death. ]

Alright then. Which weapon are you going to use? The sword, I'm guessing. If you don't mind, I'd like to cast a spell on it so we don't end up needlessly cutting ourselves. Just a simple guard spell to coat the edge.

[fairyherder]

[ he tries to reign in his will to take the look as an imagined slight, okay, and just huffs, crossing his arms. so what if he's young? he's been training since he could walk. ]

Sword is fine, sparring with a bow and arrow wouldn't really be doable like this.

[ he's been holding it this whole time, in its scabbard, and he raises it uncertainly. ] You don't need to touch it for that, do you?

[getting_better]

Just a bit.

[ He raises his finger and sphere of blue light manifests. ]

Just need to run the light along the edge, like so.

[ He brings his blade up and glides his finger along the edge then tests it on his palm, which remained clean and unharmed. ]

And that's about it. Don't worry, I can dispel it too.

[fairyherder]

[ he's still holding onto it while Bishop applies the spell, but lets it go once he goes to test it, apprehension flickering in his eyes. ]

I wasn't worried. That's... convenient.

[getting_better]

[ Bishop just shrugs and smiles in response. Practical, maybe. Useful, not so much. If he could find a way to disable blades proactively with magic before any fight then he'd be a lot happier but for now he'll settle for this.

The apprehension doesn't go unnoticed, in fact he was expecting it. This much was expected given the circumstance. ]

You can hold onto your sword if you don't want me to be holding it. I just want to make sure we leave with this match with the limbs we came with. And blood in our bodies.

[fairyherder]

[ that would be cheating, but in a real fight, that's probably a good thing to have. he squints at the comment and sniffs, rolling his eyes to mask his anxiety. ]

I'm fine. I just said it was a convenient ability.

[ he does take his sword back, though. ]

[getting_better]

Right then.

[ With their blades coated and the risk of severe injury lessened, he takes a few steps back and puts a good distance between them before taking a cune out ready to flip. ]

When the coin hits the ground, the match starts. You good with that?

[fairyherder]

[ shifts a shoulder, at the ready. ]

Yes. Go ahead.

[getting_better]

[ A firm smile and nod was his reply. Honestly, he reminds him a little bit of himself at that age. It was kinda charming.

He flipped the coin and the sound rang through the air and Bishop readied his stance. His right bearing the blade, his left gripping the mouth of the scabbard, while his eyes honed in on Jin Ling. Their blades, while different in shape, could yield roughly the same kind of motions though he held the advantage with thrusts.

So what was Bishop's advantage? His disadvantage? How does he attack? How should he attack? The coin entered his field of vision now and he had to settle his strategy.

There was only one in this case, and the ring of the cune striking the ground Bishop wasted no time starting. His first move, a flurry of blows each becoming heavier than the last. ]