Be a man! [Closed]

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

WHO: Issei and Lancer (Diarmuid Ua Duibhne.)
WHEN: Afternoon, October 24th.
WHERE: The park
SUMMARY: Issei would like to not die so easy, so he's going to pick up the sword apparently.
RATING: PG for training!
WARNINGS: They'll be swinging swords around.

Issei was ready for this.

...Well, no, he wasn't really.

He had done research about the proper ways to hold a sword, by Googling it. And he had found heavy objects like metal pipes to practice getting accustomed to carrying their weight. But he wasn't actually ready to train with a sword. He just didn't want to completely embarrass himself on his first day.

He wasn't one of the best students in Homurabara for nothing, though. He was studious and attentive. He would listen to every word his teacher spoke and put it to memory, and he would be able to get better.

He had also gotten there an hour early. Better safe than sorry.

Comments

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

Of course.

[Then Issei would just take a few swings and focus very carefully. He wasn't a beginner at all when it came to focus - he just was unused to this particular part of him being the center of his attention.]

[croibhristeoir]

Hm...better than I'd expected. I admit I'm impressed. Though you're leaving yourself open on your side, be careful of that.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

Yes, sensei.

[He'd just fix that before it became a major problem.]

[croibhristeoir]

...You really don't need to call me that. [He laughed quietly, amused rather than mocking.] Just Lancer is still acceptable.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

If you say so. I don't want to be disrespectful in any way.

[croibhristeoir]

Formality isn't necessary, though I admit I'm a little flattered you'd think so.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

You are my teacher after all. I'll call you as you like.

[So how about that practicing.]

[croibhristeoir]

Fine, I suppose that's settled. At any rate, let's not waste time. How would you say your reflexes are when it comes to intercepting a surprise attack?

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

Decent enough - I've survived this long fighting Shadows hand-to-hand after all.

[And after hearing something like that, he's definitely on guard.]

[croibhristeoir]

Good, that's all I needed to know.

[And strangely, he didn't follow that up with anything more on the subject.]

Moving on, I'm sure you know any weapon can be used in defense as well as offense. These swords are short, but they should be able to repel or parry a strike easily enough.

[Lancer shifted into a defensive stance, watching Issei carefully.]

Try to land a strike on me. I'll be happy to demonstrate.

[Protip: The Fianna didn't fuck around with training.]

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

...

[If you expected not to be able to land a blow, you were not going to be able to land a blow. Issei knew this. He also knew that Lancer was well enough capable of taking care of himself in combat.

Therefore, although he fretted a little about actually hurting Lancer with live steel, he still was going to try his best to hit him. Better to do his best in combat and apologize profusely afterwards than to hold back.

After studying Lancer's stance, he came at him as best he could with a slash to the upper arm.]

[croibhristeoir]

[Lancer would have been sincerely worried about his skill in combat if he actually believed Issei would inflict a serious injury on him. Calm and collected, he met Issei's blade with his own, blocking and pushing it aside in one swift motion.]

And now you're wide open.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

So I am.

[Issei withdrew his sword to hold it in a better defensive position.] I expect most attacks have some degree of risk.

[croibhristeoir]

Naturally. Everything's a risk in combat--usually it's simply a matter of taking the action that's least dangerous.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

Which is part of why beginners are more dangerous than experts. No expert would do some things that are unbelievably stupid.

...Which is why I'm not sure why we started off with live steel. I mean, I practiced beforehand, but...

[croibhristeoir]

You seem more than intelligent enough to not do anything unbelievably stupid. I really don't see any problem with it.

[Didn't. Fuck. Around.]

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

If you say so, se- Lancer.

[croibhristeoir]

I do know what I'm doing, Issei. Even if swords aren't my specialty.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

I didn't mean to imply otherwise.

[croibhristeoir]

I didn't really think you were implying that. But don't you think it's better to train with an actual blade rather than become too accustomed to the weight differences in a practice weapon?

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

You're right. Forget I said anything.

[croibhristeoir]

Of course. Shall we continue, then?

[Remember what he said about surprise attacks, Issei?]

[There is now a medium-sized rock flying at you.]

[Didn't. Fuck. Around.]

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

[Rocks were not part of this deal!

Issei almost manages to block the attack. His sword gets this close, but this close is not good enough and it hits him.

...That stings.]

[croibhristeoir]

Not bad at all. Could use improvement, obviously, but that's a good start.

Are you alright?

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

I'm fine. Like I said, Shadows.