At the sparing rings

[jedi_interrupted]

With the call of lightsabers to be heard, it's shocking Ahsoka took any time to try her hand with the practice blades, really. Okay, so she had set aside her own pair of saber decades before her death, but the art of combat has always been a part of who she is. And now that she has a chance to hold a pair and spar with them again? You couldn't keep her away.

Which doesn't mean she hasn't taken a couple apart to make minor tweaks to their performance. Nothing to make them anymore dangerous, she just has distinct opinions on blade length and harmonics. Blame being Anakin's padawan for all those years.

Once satisfied, she works through the lightsaber forms, adding her own acrobatic flourishes as she loosens up.

Despite her obvious focus, she keeps her eyes out for anyone who might want some lessons or a sparing match.

Comments

[forceimbalance]

Hi, Ahsoka.

One observer, arms crossed, smiling slightly, and watching with the usual critical eye.

Okay, truth be told, he's not entirely certain she'll want a spar--last time they crossed lightsabers it was deadly serious and traumatic for them both. But it's Anakin. Ahsoka knows him.

If she wants to take him up on that silent offer just from his presence, she will.

[jedi_interrupted]

She finishes the form because old master is watching and then turns with a sly grin.

"The blade lengths were awful on these."

[forceimbalance]

Anakin grins back. "That's why I keep my own here," he informs her.

As he says it, he holds out his right hand. He does, in fact, keep a practice saber he made for himself stashed around here. Ahsoka will probably recognize it. Without a kyber crystal, it does look a little different from his other sabers--but it's Anakin. The design principle remains much the same as it ever was.

[jedi_interrupted]

She extinguishes the ones she's altered and offers them, together in one hand, as she arches an eye ridge before reaching to take his to examine.

Of course she'll want her old teacher to review her work.

[forceimbalance]

Anakin casually tosses her his. Really, it *is* a lot like his original one, certainly in length, although it might be weighted a little more. Some of that is just necessity, for the way he built it without a kyber crystal. Some of it is more a matter of habit and shifted style.

He turns his attention to her work. It's not bad, all told--there are definitely tweaks he knows he would probably make purely for purposes of efficiency rather than changing the design, which is, after all, a highly personal thing for any Force user.

"Sound," he observes, "considering you didn't really have a proper starting point."

As in, not from scratch, with a crystal. But one makes do.

[jedi_interrupted]

She examines his work while he does hers and can't find any faults, but then what did she expect? He never did make errors...with mechanical things.

"Thank you. After this, perhaps I should create my own. I miss the curves ones." At the mention of them, she frowns remembering their fight. But that is the past, she lets it go. "The weight is odd. Did it take time to get used to?"

[forceimbalance]

No, indeed, at least not since he thought building C-3PO was a good idea. On the other hand, well, Ahsoka has observed he has been mistaken more than once.

Anakin is silent for a little too long after her question. "I didn't--but I expect it would still take... some time to learn the feel the weight, without--"

Beat.

"Experience."

Look, at least this one has some actual elegance to it. He never entirely liked his last lightsaber. Definitely one of the downsides of the suit. Besides the torture.

[jedi_interrupted]

She takes a slow breath and tosses the saber back.

"Care to show me how well you remember how to use it? I might be a little rusty, but I think I can give you a good match."

And a friendly sparring match might be just the thing to cleanse their last battle from her memory.

[forceimbalance]

Anakin's breath is just as slow as he hands hers back, catching his own out of the air with the casual ease of someone who made a habit of using his lightsaber as a projectile weapon.

Well then.

If she feels comfortable asking... Force. Well then. "I don't often get actual sparring partners, these days. Certainly not of any challenge."

And hey, last time they clashed, she did some serious damage. Worse, in some ways, than Luke--but then, his heart wasn't really in that fight.

[jedi_interrupted]

"Come on then." She steps back into the circle, continuing until she's on the opposite side to give them space and him a chance to get ready.

"I haven't had many challenges myself, to be honest. Luke felt teaching other aspects of the Force more important. I can't say I disagree with him, but..." She shrugs as she doesn't know what else to say. The matter is as it is. She does take a guard stance as she waits for him to declare the beginning of the match.

[forceimbalance]

Chance to get ready? Please. As if he can't be ready in about a split second, especially now that he has all the agility back that he pleases.

His lightsaber is held lightly in his hand. His eyes track her movement, a smile lingering in them. As for his presence in the Force, well, it's brighter than usual, really. Getting a friendly spar with Ahsoka definitely pushes him a little out of his balance and into a much happier place even than his usual neutral balance. It is also, if nothing else, a good sign.

"He didn't really have time for much," he defends his son automatically. "And I think he felt maybe it was important to focus on things other than combat, after the Clone Wars and the mistakes made there, and--"

Well, and him.

"Certainly not for lack of skill." Luke makes him so proud, all that natural talent. "Besides," he adds, tone a little more sour, "it's hardly as if he was really... prepared to teach." Or ever expected to. He is as much to blame as anyone, but really. Surely Obi-wan could have done something more, all those years on Tatooine.

[jedi_interrupted]

"Fair enough," she replies and lights her sabers, twisting one into her more comfortable reverse grip. She shifts her left foot a few degrees to tighten her balance and waits. The sabers feel good in her hands, though the weight is wrong.

"He was also building, which requires less combat than one might think."

[forceimbalance]

"I'm not surprised," Anakin notes. "If you're trying to build up, you don't particularly want to be throwing your students in front of live fire. Besides, I think they both," meaning his children, "rather hoped to be... done with war."

That smile grows, and he tilts an eyebrow slightly in something between inquiry and invitation. Is she going to make the first move, or leave it up to him? Because she's really welcome to.

No, he still hasn't ignited his saber, why do you ask.

[shakemyhand]

Guide, the older version, steps outside and is grateful for a cloudy day, even though he still squints in the too bright light. His leather coat, a little too warm for the day. The creature in the sparing ring catches his attention. He remembers one such as this from his younger years. He heads over and watches from the periphery as she warms up.

He is old among Wraith, but still quite spry, though sometimes he can feel the age wear on him. He'd never admit it though.

[jedi_interrupted]

She is glad to have taken the time to work through the forms, as it both reminds her of happier times and allows her to relish being in a corporeal body again. She feels the discordant presence of the being who is watching but doesn't break her stride; despite the beings deep seated hunger and how akin to the Dark Side it seems.

If he wants something, he will speak.

[shakemyhand]

He will watch till she is finished. Though, a good sparing match is always fun. He is not one to constantly speak, aloud. He searches for her mind, to see what it feels like.

A blinding star, that was rare. He smiles at that revelation. There was something else, strong and powerful behind her mind, something bright. However, her mind was stellar.

[jedi_interrupted]

She feels the mental touch and it causes her to miss a step.

Frowning, she shoves the unwelcome presence from her mind, closes the 'door', and switches to a more aggressive kata.

[shakemyhand]

Ahhh, the mind of a queen, interesting. The top most layers of his mind are open for anyone to see, his most private thoughts though, he keeps those buried.

He laughs a little.

[jedi_interrupted]

She sniffs and slides into the next attack move. Her steps light, her strikes like waves.

[shakemyhand]

He can wait, there is no pressing matter to attend to. She is a sight to see, a queen with graceful movements. He wonders if she'd be up to a sparing match.

[jedi_interrupted]

She completes two more strikes, then turns to face him square and falls into a meditation pose on the ground; sabers extinguishing as she lowers herself. Eyes open, she stares at him with a serene expression that gives nothing away.

[shakemyhand]

Guide steps closer to her, "Would you like to spar, Stellar One?"

[jedi_interrupted]

He gets an arched eye ridge and a smirk.

"You can speak. I was wondering about that. I would be interested in sparring if you wish. There are more lightsabers over there." She nods towards them. "These are mostly harmless. They will sting and maybe bruise, but not cut."

[shakemyhand]

He picks up one of the training light sabers and turns it around looking to find the on switch.

"Why not spar with something more lethal?" he asks.