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]

[ Her block was brilliant, just as her call on his advance. Defending against a blow like that takes a lot of skill, strength, and knowledge. If she hadn't stepped back the impact of the strike would have weakened her arms, if she hadn't called his assault he would have claimed her head.

Clearly this was going to be a good match.

Karin's disengage and a quick strikes were met in a similar fashion, as Bishop took a step back to anchor his body while weaved and parried each coming thrust. He angled himself so his sword arm had a full range of movement while his left still gripped the scabbard. He predicts her next move would be to try and catch his sword to either disarm or neutralize it and go for a killing blow, it's what he would do, but he has a counter to that.

He waits and deflects thrust after thrust until he feels her blade against the middle of his own, and with a twist of the wrist and quick step in, he locks their blades together to halt Karin's attack before pushing her back to gain some distance and put them back to the starting position. ]

Impressive. That was a great block.

[sonnestark]

[He moves with certainty and expertise, the result of what she's sure is a wealth of prior experience, and even as he deflects her attack and she quickly steps back to compose herself once more, she smiles, extending her swordarm to one side as she considers how next to proceed.]

You're not so bad, yourself! How long have you been doing this?

[They're far from finished, but nothing wrong with a little small-talk between steps.]

[getting_better]

Thank you. Started to learn how to fight since I was fourteen, then picked up the sword at eighteen.

[ He slowly shuffled his feet forward with his sword raised and at the ready. The skill she showed meant he can't be careless, his attacks had to be well calculated even if they're just sparring. ]

I was a soldier, now you could call me a soldier of fortune.

[ He a hitman still gets paid and also fights. It counts. At least in his definition. ]

[sonnestark]

[Interesting!]

I started young, as well, and went into the military as soon as they would have me. I suppose we have that in common.

[As well as no longer being a soldier, though she leaves that out for now, shifting her balance and moving forward into a carefully-planned lunge with her blade moving in a horizontal arc at waist-height. En garde!]

[getting_better]

I guess we do!

[ He met her blade with his, parrying and taking a step back to lure her in for a time. ]

I wanted to join the marines, be on the frontlines, embrace the suck 'n all that! You?

[ He continues to draw her in, parrying strike after strike while waiting for his opportunity. ]

[sonnestark]

You were in it for the glory, then?

[There's a teasing lilt to her voice, her smile pulling to once side as she steps forward to follow that lure, though not without caution, eyeing the tension in his arm to try and predict where he might swing the blade once he's through parrying— but for now, their blades cross time and time again, and as soon as she sees an opening, she thrusts.]

[getting_better]

For my country and her people!

[ The moment steel collided Bishop parried Karin's blade with a big swing to leave them both exposed, but he's been waiting for that thrust. He quickly switched his grip to a back hand hold and drove the pommel of his katana into her gut to push her back and do some damage. ]

[sonnestark]

[The enchantment, along with the absence of the blade, of course, makes it so that no real damage is done, though it certainly would have been otherwise— even with Karin letting her sharp reflexes carry her back, she's not quite fast enough, and she's momentarily winded as she regains her balance.

All the same, her smile doesn't fade— he's good, which means that sparring with him will certainly help her to improve herself.]

A noble goal— and nice shot.

[getting_better]

[ A smile tugs at his lip when she recovers. ]

Thank you.

[ He won't insult her by asking if she can continue and instead he'll just ready himself, rolling his left shoulder and lowering himself into another stance to go with the backhand grip of his blade. This time it was more defensive because he doesn't think she'll take that hit and be done with it. ]

[sonnestark]

[He's quite right not to presume that would be the end of things— she takes note of his defensive stance, faking left before she quickly alters her course and comes at him from the right, allowing agility and years of practice to carry her forward.]

En garde!

[She laughs openly— it's cliche, perhaps, but she's clearly enjoying herself, and her style does hearken back to traditional European fencing.]

[getting_better]

[ He followed the beat of her moves until she switched dance midway. He always prided himself as fast, hell he was the scout of the team for a reason, but even he had to admit that women naturally have a physique built to be more agile. His powers always helped level the playing field against Queen and Knight, but now that he's without them he's reminded of this fact once more.

He had to do some drastic twist and bending to catch her blade, but even then his parry was shaky. It honestly made him grin. ]

Nice!

[ He disengaged from her and took a few steps back, now on high alert for her speed and agility. ]

Alright, come one then!