milliways_bar | (no subject)

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A useful part of being in a kingdom that has faced a great many threats over the years is that the armory in Belisaere is well organized. He's spent the last few days deep in it because he has an idea about the scale armor that everyone wears but needs to find some early examples in it. Milliways appears instead of the door to another area like he was expecting and he smiles, he could do with some food and a rest.

Since its always best to be safe and there's a dinner later, he's in his surcoat with his sword by his side though his surcoat has picked up some dust and flaking rust. At the counter, he sits down to order some spiced wine and bread and cheese before turning around to see if anyone he knows is around.

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"Awesome!"

Robin finishes his own drink and bounces to the floor.

(It'll be nice to see someone's homeworld without getting in trouble for breaking in.)

"You're the best, Sameth."

"Thanks," He opens his door where a torch onto a large room where Charter lights glint off metal and leather.

"Through here."

Robin reaches up to his glasses instinctively, and then grins when he realizes the lenses have adjusted to the change in the light.

He grins at Sameth and walks through into the armory, just enough so he can stand within the door and stare around.

"Woah."

They're in the section with most of the armor arranged on some stands with swords hanging on the wall and grouped in baskets. Sam heads towards some swords he knows aren't as bespelled as others.

Robin follows him slowly, his hands deep in his pockets and his head up and alert, unsure what to look at first. He's distracted by first one piece of armour then a sword, then he's hurrying to catch up with Sam.

"It's like the Batcave," he says.

"There's a lot of history down here. I've been looking especially at this sort of armor, its called scale mail,"

He reaches for a tunic of armor that seems to ripple.

"I think we used to have armour like that at home," Robin says, reaching for the tunic as well. "Unless it's magic, then I don't know for sure."

"There's some magic in it but not many specific spells. The Charter infuses everything to some level. These are the best swords to use for practice, let's find one that suits you."

"Right," says Robin. "Swords."

Which is what they're here for, and not to get distracted by armour. He follows Sam closely and studies the swords in general before reaching for one that looks like it might be about the right length for him.

He's short, it's a thing.

"I think that should work. Does the balance feel comfortable?"

Robin doesn't answer straight away. He holds his arm out straight the sword ahead of him, and then whips his arm around carefully with bat-precision, frowning thoughtfully.

"Yeah, this is great, actually."

"Perfect, then let's head back to Milliways. I know where the best place to spar there is."

He nods at how Robin moves the sword, he does know what he's doing.

Bat-training. It gets into everything.

"You do?"

Robin looks around for a belt and a sheath but failing to find that, lowers the sword to carry at his side. "Show me that, then. Sounds useful."

Sam spots him looking around and hands him a belt and sheath, "Here."

Then starts back towards the door they came in through.

"Oh hey, thanks Sam."

Robin grabs the belt and sheathes the sword before tying the belt around his hips, letting it sit comfortably.

This means he is wearing two belts, neither actually holding up his pants, but as the other is being worn over his shoulder like a bandolier under his sweater, he doesn't think it's worth mentioning.

He follows Sam back through to the bar.

Nothing about his look is odd to Sam as his mother and aunt both routinely wear a bandolier of belts along with swords.

Sam goes through the Bar and outside to where the pells are since there's an area of ground that's been tamped down, "This should work."

"Yeah, I see people training out here all the time."

Robin rolls his shoulder back to loosen them up before drawing his sword. As the sword in question feels more similar to a backsword than anything else he's trained with, he adopts a classical fencing stance, and salutes Sameth with the blade.

Before getting started, Sam takes off his surcoat in an attempt to not get it any dirtier, then draws his sword. His stance reflects the weight of his sword and he salutes Robin.

Robin keeps up a solemn expression for all of two seconds, before he suddenly breaks out into a grin and lunges forward. His form, he hopes, is good enough for a Bat.

Its good form and Sameth blocks the lunge with a smile before moving on the offensive with a series of quick slashes using his height and weight to try and bear down on Robin.

Everyone and anyone has height and weight on Robin, so he's good with defending against this. Ridiculously light on his feet, quick and agile, he darts back away from the slashes, blocking where he needs to.

He's been learning this style for years now, and he's had one of the best teachers in the world, but he's still not got the specialist ability that Sameth has, and he's soon back to relying on his agility more than his skill.

His speed has Sameth reconsidering some of his attacks and he backs off slightly to see how Robin might attack.

He was raised in a world where anyone and anything might kill him so he still presses just slower as Robin is fast.

Robin attacks like he defends: quick and light and with almost perfect technique. He watches Sameth's technique, and tries as well as he can to adpat and match it.

After a few minutes, and a few close calls, his smile disappears, replaced by an expression of intense concentration.

When he attacks, Sameth grows grimmer as they keep fighting, Robin knows what he's doing.

That's the problem, when it comes down to it. Robin knows what he's doing, but he doesn't feel it, the way he feels moving through a city, the way he feels batarangs and grapple lines and eskrima. Sameth scores the first touch, and Robin works hard to prove his own prowess, and to win a few more after that.

By the time they're finished, Robin is soaked in sweat, but his frown eventually breaks down to reveal a smile flushed from the effort.

"Okay, that was great."