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]

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.

[croibhristeoir]

Of course. That was a pretty good start, though.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear it.

[croibhristeoir]

If nothing else, I have confidence you'll adapt to this well.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

I certainly hope so. I would rather not be a burden.

[croibhristeoir]

I'm sure you'll do just fine. As I said before, the basics of a sword aren't exceedingly difficult.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Have you really not taught anyone before?

[croibhristeoir]

Well...not for a very long time, at least.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't have been able to tell.

[croibhristeoir]

I think the last time I taught anyone to use either sword or lance was... [He looked thoughtful, considering this for a moment or two.] I imagine it must have been one of my children, likely Ollann.

Regardless, I doubt myself much of a teacher in comparison to many. Especially with a weapon I've not enough experience in.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

How many children did you have?

[Because he looked young.]

[croibhristeoir]

[THAT HE DOES, ISSEI.]

Five. Why do you ask?

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

You, ah, look a little young to have had five children.

[croibhristeoir]

Technically speaking, I'm twenty-five. Not so unusual, I should think.

[Beat.]

...then again, I assume the standards for what constitutes an adult aren't what I'm used to.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

...If I assume that you waited until you were the ripe age of twenty and your wife was extremely fertile, she would have killed you by the third one. If I assume that you were perhaps seventeen - I'm seventeen. I don't want to think about having children now.

[croibhristeoir]

Truthfully, I can't recall precisely--that was something of an incredibly difficult time in my life. I might have been sixteen or seventeen when we met, and she was pregnant with Donnchad perhaps a few months after.

[TOTALLY. CASUAL.]

At least I believe it was a matter of months. It was difficult to keep track in such circumstances.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

...you really don't waste any time, do you.

[He might be taking a step back from you now.]

[croibhristeoir]

[FACEPALM]

It's not--I mean, it's really not quite what it sounds like.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

Many people these days do not marry nearly as young as that. Someone sixteen or seventeen would be in school still, and it would be a badge of shame to have a child then. The age where someone would be getting married for the first time would be - well, twenty-five.