014 - And he saw neither sun nor moon / But heard the roaring of the sea

[anjelsword.livejournal.com]

[Aniki is not in a particularly good mood, it seems. She's staring into space, sitting on a rail of the wooden fence that circles the packed-dirt practice yard she's towed along with her to the plane. There's training equipment of various kinds slung over the fence--wooden swords and leather belts and scabbards, harnesses, weights.]

[She has a shapeless brown bag thrown over her shoulder and seems to be stroking its contents. A little furry brown-gray kitty head pokes up for a moment and disappears again.]

Oh, now, Laddiebuck. It's not that scary.

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[anjelsword.livejournal.com]

[...well. She's cracking a smile at least.]

[hasarrived.livejournal.com]

[Yuuto doesn't notice, or even bother to ask if she's un-weird. He's determined to get this thing to fit if he has to hop around ALL DAMN DAY.]

[anjelsword.livejournal.com]

[And.... she's smiling at bit more.] Lad, if you need some help...

[hasarrived.livejournal.com]

I've got it, I've got it!

[Yuuto nearly tumbles, but manages to stay on his feet with the one hand he can get free.]

... Okay, fine, so I need a little help.

[anjelsword.livejournal.com]

A little, is it. [Sets the bag down gently, and Laddiebuck promptly buries himself in it. After she's made sure he's settled, she comes over to wrestle the harness on straight, and then returns to her weights and selects a sequence of thin metal disks to hang in balance around it. It's only a couple of pounds of weight, but it'll make a serious difference when he has to exert himself.]

This, you wear always, except in the bath or while you sleep. Under your clothes at home, over them, I don't care. Take it off for any length of time and it'll show in the way you fight--don't expect me to go easy on you if you don't listen to what I have to say.

[She jerks her head and walks over the the wooden swords arrayed against the fence.] Once you pick one of these, it never leaves your side while you're here. I suppose I can't expect you to carry it about at home, but if you're on the plane, you're wearing it, and no matter where you go you practice, understand?

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[hasarrived.livejournal.com]

[Yuuto blinks at the weights, and tests out the difference when he tries to move. He's not sure he likes the sound of this.

Then there's a pause, because he's never told anyone about the Imagin before-- they just KNOW thanks to the Plane being the Plane, or Ryotarou.] I guess I'll just ignore whatever the Imagin have to say about it.

[He follows her to the fence.]

... Fine, whatever, I'll practice. [He really hopes people don't ask too many questions. Sigh. Yuuto steps forward and takes a sword.]

[anjelsword.livejournal.com]

Yes, you will ignore them. [At his next announcement, her eyebrows go up.] Oh, well, glorious. Fine, whatever, you'll practice. You'd best have more investment in this venture or I'm dropping it right now.

[Watches him pick, and there's a twitch of a frown.] Not even going to see which fits you best?

[hasarrived.livejournal.com]

[Guh. He could conceivably go on whining for an eternity, but he really wants the training.] ... Y-yes, ma'am. [It's a damned miracle! He doesn't say anything as he examines the sword he took After a moment...]

What... sort of things should I be looking for?

[anjelsword.livejournal.com]

[Considers for a long moment.] Weight, balance, a length that's comfortable. I suppose most of it you won't have a feel for just yet in any case. All right. Wait here.

[Poof'd! And she comes back with two quarterstaves. She sizes him up for a moment and tosses him the shorter of the two.] Forget the sword for now. Right now, we work on basic staff drills and sparring.

[hasarrived.livejournal.com]

[Yuuto wishes he hadn't said anything. The look says it all. He tosses the sword aside.]

There's no way I'm carrying that thing everywhere.

[anjelsword.livejournal.com]

[He threw it. Not only is he being a prat, he threw it. Her smile becomes suddenly mild.] Oh, won't you?

[She whips her staff down at his shoulder with bruising force, no sooner making contact than whipping the other end in to his side. She slams the end down on his foot. Cracks him on the other shoulder, slams it into his thighs. Stepping forward with each blow. When she thinks he's been hammered on enough, she brings it swinging down once more and stops just above his skull.]

You will, while on the plane, carry the weapon you are given, or you will have a hell of a time defending yourself from me.

[hasarrived.livejournal.com]

[Yuuto cries out at each hit, as is to be expected when he's getting pwned by a frickin' assassin chick. When it's over, he's staring up at her, breathing raggedly.]

Are you crazy?

[anjelsword.livejournal.com]

Are you going to commit or not?

[hasarrived.livejournal.com]

Yeah, yeah, geez, don't kill me!

[anjelsword.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't kill you on the first lesson, laddie buck. That doesn't come until at least the third.

[hasarrived.livejournal.com]

[KEYWORDS]

[anjelsword.livejournal.com]

[Twitch of a smile. Maybe she was a drill sergeant in a past life? She steps back and looks him up and down.] Hold the staff like you're planning to hit me with it. Lets see your stance.

[hasarrived.livejournal.com]

... Alright. [He closes his eyes for a moment and tries to imagine how Urataros holds his weapon. The hands go here, and then... His feet are all wrong ):]

[anjelsword.livejournal.com]

[Gods, his everything is all wrong. She fixes the feet first, tugging and pushing until he's standing the right way, and then she shoves his hands into the right places.]

Roughen up the wood under where your hands are supposed to be, if it helps you remember the placement. Make marks on the ground if you can't remember where to put your feet. We start with simple blocks.

[She holds the staff like this (because I'm too lazy to describe it). (http://www.rapierwit.com/images/quarterstaff.jpg)]

High block.

[hasarrived.livejournal.com]

... Right. [It seems familiar. So she must be right. He studies her posture for a moment, then imitates it.]

High block. Got it.

[anjelsword.livejournal.com]

[Of course she is!]

[As soon as he says 'Got it' she brings her staff down heavily on his, though not nearly as hard as she was swinging at him before.]

[hasarrived.livejournal.com]

[Yuuto flinches, but manages to hold onto his weapon.] Would it kill you to give me some warning?!

[anjelsword.livejournal.com]

You think someone who's going to kill you will stop and say "Excuse me, lad, I'm going to cut your head off now"?

[hasarrived.livejournal.com]

Well-- no, but... there's rules about this sort of thing.

[anjelsword.livejournal.com]

High block. [And she's swinging down again.]