milliways_bar | Out by the lake: Elaine's sword lesson

Archie approaches Alanna and the others from the direction of the bar (He'll get a proper entrance later). He still has the rolling gait of a man who's spent most of his adult life at sea.

As he reaches them he sweeps into a low bow, grinning.

"No man could ask for such fair company. How do you fair my ladies?"

Hello, Archie. *Alanna bows and glances toward Svava with a grin.* I'm afraid we got started without you. Svava's doing quite well. Are you still interested in sparring?

And with much millitiming, after she's gotten trounced a couple times by Faith- (hey, go flying from a couple hits, that's definitly being trounced), Svava makes her way over with a wave and grin.

His grin widens considerably.

"I am indeed, though it seems hardly fair that I'm still fresh and the two of you have already seen some play. Still I have no doubt that between the two of you, I'm sure to be kept soundly on my toes."

*Alanna smirks.*

I think we can manage. What do you say, Svava? Perhaps we should attack him at once. *She wanders over to the tree and returns with her other sword, the heavier of the two.* Do you wish to warm up, Archie?

A faint chuckle. "Two on one isn't fair, and I'm not that tired. Faith is... interesting to spar with. Vampire Slayer.. hm."

She puts her sword down to fix her hair, catching loose strands and pulling them back from her face.

"Two against one certainly isn't fair, especially when it's a poor sailor against an immortal and a lady Knight! It's been a fair few years since my formal training and I'm afraid the style used most often by sailors and the like tends to leave a lot of room for error. Plus, we use diffrent weapons."

He offers his blade to Alanna to inspect, it is standard Navy issue, it's single blade abaou an inch and a half ling and curving slightly at the tip.

*Alanna grins approvingly at Svava.*

You did very well, my friend. I myself have suffered defeat at the hands of Lady Death and Angel. I know what it's like to spar with someone you have no hope of beating. Still, you are tenacious, and your instincts are good.

*She turns to Archie with a smile, eagerly inspecting his proffered blade.* Lots of random whacking at things? Not much technique? *A quick teasing smile and she returns to the blade.* It is a good weapon. Shall we begin? *Eyebrow quirked, Alanna backs up and begins a drill much like the one she started with earlier, but a bit more complex.*

A bit of a shrug, and rueful half-smile to Alanna. "Its... interesting, to fight for practice."

Never mind all the times she would have used a rune spell or two or three, if the fighting had been real.

A glance back between Alanna and Archie, and she watches Alanna's feet to get the motions there, at least, before she starts following the drill.

He grins at Alanna.

"Yes, that's it precisely. A long shot from my fencing lessons as a boy."

He glances back at Svava.

"It is indeed, but as they say, practice makes perfect. And I would that you had all the practice in the world if you have to go... away."

He watches Alanna's moves carefully.

"Now that looks suspiciously like something my old sword-master used to have us do."

*Alanna does not waste time explaining motions or concepts as she would with Elaine. These two have experience with a blade, and need action. Repetition, not explanation. The exhilaration of today's session catches up with Alanna, and she picks up speed, moving seamlessly from strike to parry. She swings her blade around in a vicious arc and crosses one foot over the other, stalking her imaginary prey. Side to side, under and up, she keeps her grip firm and feet light. Finally, she rocks back on her heels with one last butterfly sweep and grins.*

Well done. How did that feel?

A faint smile and nod to Archie. "I know." Quietly.

Its easy for her to remember motions and movements- she picks up dances like nothing. Taking this motions and putting them in a situation where they'd have to change at an instant? Will yet to be seen.

Thus said, Svava follows Alanna's drill.

He follows the drill, noting the slight variations. He's not being distracted by the fact that he's got two beautiful women near him moving gracefully with bladed weapons. Alas for his maleness.

"It is good to be practicing again. I think, Lady Alanna, that with Svava's blade, the relative smallness can be used to her advantage, it can most likely be maneuvered far quicker than great swords and the like."

He realizes that Alanna's probably thought of this long ago, but he's thinking out loud, trying to remember different techniques.

I'm glad, Archie. *She smiles at his insight.* True. Perhaps we should see how well it holds up against your blade? If you will please cross swords and prepare to face off... *Alanna sheathes her own blade and watches them intently.* Try to utilize the first drill, and attack and defend as you see fit. Move slowly at first if it suits you.

A blink, looking at Alanna, then a slow, careful nod, glancing at Archie. Svava takes a deep breath.

"First drill for the sparring, alright." She walks over to Archie, and gives him a wan smile and nod, moving the sword up to a guard position.

He nods slowly, blade at the ready. He's trying not to think of Alanna scrutinizing his every move, even though he knows that that is exactly what he had wanted her to do.

He looks steadily at Svava, his opponent.

"Attacking is always better than defending, move into my defense. Your weapon is smaller, quicker than mine, try to get close enough that I don't have enough room to block."

He glances back at Alanna for approval of his advice.

Couldn't have said it better myself, Archie. Svava, your greatest strengths are your speed and agility. Keep moving, look for him to make a mistake and strike quickly. Don't jab.

*Nodding, Alanna motions for them to begin.*

And they're both telling her to attack Archie. So, any fears and reservations get pushed away- 'best at dealing', Yamino said.

Attack. Get in quick, keep it fast. At least there wasn't anything Archie could do to hurt her.

Svava nods to them both, blade up- and a fast step in, following the footsteps of the earlier drill Alanna went over with her and Elaine. Seax blade up, flashing. Feint right high, then move back for a slash down.

Left arm and hand back for balance- no, no runes here, remember that.

"Good"

Sabre up and around, knocking her blade aside. Follow through, turn, and sweep up to shoulder level. He knows his blade can't hurt her, and the lesson taught by letting him through her guard will have a far greater impact than letting her win.

He hopes she'll understand why.

Get upset for getting hit with a blade? Archie didn't see her fly back from getting whapped by Faith, did he? There's a frown at getting hit, but that's more out of surprise and at herself for it happening. A step back to regroup-

Turn, strike, slash, dodge. Keep in close, she's smaller.

He finds himself stepping back to keep his longer blade in play, she's taking the advice to heart he notes with approval.

A block and a twisting swipe that comes perilously close to laying her arm open (if he were using a blade that could harm her), but she catches it just in time.

He's still got a pleased, approving look on his face.

A faint frown, but the slash is blocked. That is what she needs to learn- the weapons at Ragnarok will be like her own, and she must learn to block them.
She must.

Svava steps in closer, blade flashing, and ringing when it strikes his. Back along the foot work of the drill Alanna just taught them. Forward, side, forwards, back- that part's like dancing, and is almost too easy. Wide eyes watching Archie's every move, serious, studious.

Archie steps back again, and the footing isn't good. There's a side step to adjust, and Svava's blade slips past his saber.

He's not blocking.

Wider eyes, and she quickly pulls back, trying to stop--

But not before the tip of the seax blade slices through his shirt and nicks his flesh.

Archie spins away, irritated at himself for letting his missed footing let her past his defense. His blade is still at the ready as he touches the spot where his shirt was torn.

He is startled when his fingers come away wet with blood.

"I barely felt that. I didn't know I could still bleed..."

*Alanna leaps forward as Archie attempts to negotiate the poor footing. She feels herself wince as Svava's blade connects.*

Goddess! Archie... *She skids to a halt before them, eyes locked on the tear in his shirt.* Are you alright? Of course you can bleed... Alex bled. Ack, Archie. *She bites her lip.*

She's already pulling back, eyes wide. She at least doesn't drop her blade- good training? Its a controlled set down, really.

"Archie! I'm sorry. Gods..." Practice blades. Next time, practice blades- so the calm part of her mind mentions.

"I'm sorry!" Again, and Svava hurries over.

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