Out by the lake: Elaine's sword lesson

[the_lioness]

*Alanna stands by the lake, humming and examining a set of throwing knives. Elaine's next sword lesson is scheduled to start soon, and Alanna keeps an eye on the bar door in the hopes that George, Svava and Archie put in an appearance as well.*

[OOC: Anyone is welcome to come watch or join in. :) ]

Comments

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

"Right," Elaine mutters, and brings her sword up, readying herself. And waits for Meg to attack.

Because she's fair that way. They both should have the fun of attacking!

[the_lioness]

*Alanna beams at George.* Of course. *All of a sudden, she has two daggers drawn too.* As long as you don't mind fighting me? These two are rather evenly matched I think.

Elaine, attack her on her left side. Go!

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

And Elaine does it, going towards Meg's left side, attacking.

[balletrat]

*Meg raises up her cutlass quickly, spinning out of the way, then goes for an attack on the right side.

She's better at attacking than defending. By a lot. After all, trees don't really fight back.*

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

Elaine meets the attack on the right side quickly, blocking and pushing and attacking again.

[balletrat]

*Meg is easily pushed back - after all, she is quite small - and ducks away again, spinning behind Elaine in a circle and attacking on the other side.*

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

Elaine turns, overshoots herself, and loses balance, leaving her sword unguarded.

[balletrat]

*Meg's eyes spark, and she brings her sword down on Elaine's. Unfortunately, the jolt makes her grip on her own weapon loosen, and her fingers slip -*

[the_lioness]

*Alanna looks over and quirks an eyebrow.*

Tighten your grip, Meg!

[balletrat]

*Meg's fingers curl more tightly around the sword, immediately. But is it quickly enough? Find out, with our exciting next post!*

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

And Elaine's sword is on the ground.

She sighs, and then she grins. "That was good sparring, Meg."

OOC: and with that, mun must run. Hey, that rhymes!

[balletrat]

*Meg grins at her.* Definitely. We'll have to do it again.

[collects_ears]

He grins. "Mind? Hardly." He immediately enters a fighting stance, watching her for even the slightest hint of her forthcoming movement. Her honoured rules of chivalry don't apply to the kind of fighting they're going to be doing.

[the_lioness]

Oh, come now. Aren't you even slightly nervous about facing your best student? *Grinning, Alanna drops into a crouch and keeps her eyes glued on his blade. She circles him, lunging forward with a downward slash.*

[collects_ears]

A downward slash which he evades easily. "If we were fighting with swords instead of knives, I'd be scared witless," he says truthfully, feinting forward, making as though to slash at her ribs with one blade, while bringing the other towards her shoulder.

[the_lioness]

You don't give yourself enough credit, George.

*Alanna hurriedly spins to the side, easily avoiding his blade. Moving quickly and very much on her guard, she blocks one of his arms and brings her other knife up toward his chest.*

[collects_ears]

"So first I should be nervous, and now I don't give myself enough credit?" he quips, twisting quickly away from the knife coming toward his chest, and ducking around behind her.

[the_lioness]

I'm simply trying to throw you off guard is all.

*Alanna whirls, determined not to lose sight of the knives in his hands. To do so would spell death in a real fight. She feints left and lunges forward again.*

[collects_ears]

He laughs.

Recognizing the feint for what it is, he whirls away, to keep himself out of her reach. He brings one dagger towards her throat, watching all the while for the real attack he knows will follow.

[the_lioness]

*She dances to the side again, her blade clashing against his as she deflects the strike. Gaze steady, she continues to circle him. Eventually, she drops and rolls, coming up behind him. She stabs toward the bottom of his arm with one hand and prepares to try wrenching him over her hip when he counters.*

[collects_ears]

As their daggers connect, he's already calculating his next move. As they break apart again, he lets one of the daggers drop deliberately.

Her next tactic is to try to throw him, and were he a less skilled opponent, he's quite certain it would have worked - he is however, NOT a less skilled opponent - at least not with knives. When she attempts to throw him, he latches onto her arm with his now free hand and quickly twists it behind her back. He pulls her against him, and slips the other dagger against her throat.

[the_lioness]

*Alanna snarls. Breath shallow, she presses back against him, putting as much distance between the blade and her throat as possible. Now, if she can only squirm out of his grasp... *

I'd forgotten how cursed talented you are with a knife, much less two.

*She tugs on her arm.*

[collects_ears]

As she presses against him, he can feel his heart racing. Hopefully, she'll think it only a result of their exertions.

"Yield?" he suggests in a drawl, keeping a firm hold on her arm.

[the_lioness]

*Alanna tilts her head back and looks up at him. Eyes narrowed, she considers the wisdom of trying to toss him over her knee again.

Even she has a sense of self preservation.*

Yes. *Voice raspy, she nods.* For now.

[collects_ears]

He smiles, letting go of her arm. "You did very, very well." he says, knowing her pride will be slightly wounded. "And before you go off telling me not to give you platitudes, I'll remind you that you know I'm right."

He retrieves the dagger he dropped, cleaning it on a pocket handkerchief, then returning the dagger and its partner to their hidden sheathes.