Completed [Bronze Woods] A Sparring Glance [Fallon]

[Isolde Seibold]

“Still, it is a good base to work from. But you must remember the moment you start learning how to fight, it isn’t just about defending yourself but also about defending others when they need to be defended.”

Isolde's mouth set into a hard line and she looked worriedly over at Fallon, leaving her thoughts unvoiced. The Nuit? Defend... others? She-- she wanted to help people, and she thought that everyone deserved to be helped, deserved to be given chance after chance after chance... but how could she worry about helping others in such a way when she wasn't even strong enough to help herself? She would have to get stronger... but that was a slow process to undertake, and especially hard for one such as her. And if she was being brutally honest with herself... Could she expect the selfish creature that she had become to take a stand for others? She was selfish; concerned with her own welfare far above another's. Just look at what had happened that night at the Coin-- like it or not, her moral fortitude had been tested and found lacking. She had just-- just left that man lying there in the street. Left him like he was nothing, left him to a total stranger who had not bothered to help the situation in the first place. She'd just walked away, and why? Because she was afraid for herself. Though she might like to think she could be stronger next time --gods forbid a next time-- would she? Could she? Ultimately she was a coward. A weakling. Others might deserve more chances. She had used hers up long ago. Could someone like her be expected to help others at the risk of herself--?

She didn't know. Isolde wished she could say she could. But, she had firm evidence that said otherwise. And even with proper training, how could she ever hope to become anything more than she already was?

Fallon said something, and the Nuit snapped out of her depressing introversion, dull blue eyes flicking up towards the girl. She had no idea what Fallon had said, but she simply bobbled her head, guessing at what the content of the short question had been... and when Fallon moved again, a bit faster this time, the Nuit reacted as best she could.

This time the kukri was coming down, in a hack at her shoulder. The Nuit automatically stepped back into a dodge, not having been taught so far how to block with the dagger hand. When Fallon's arm swished down in front of her the Nuit stepped back up... sweeping her own right arm out, using it to knock Fallon's kukri to the side... before she swung her own dagger back into play, thrusting low and straight at Fallon's stomach. This proximity left her feeling vulnerable, and her left arm ached to flash out, to move and help. But she kept it where it was, and instead side-stepped after she lunged, trying to get out of the way in case Fallon tried to attack once more.

“Let me know if we’re going to fast, or if I’m hurting. Understand?”

The Nuit nodded her head, breathing out, "I understand," to put the other girl at ease. A moment of consideration later and Isolde continued, "F-Fallon... how does one block with the dagger hand? I-Is there a certain way to c-catch blade on b-blade?"

OOCHow much faster are they going? I format my posts a bit differently (more like Razkar) when they're going at what is 'full speed'. Not to say that 'full speed' is ACTUALLY as fast as possible for GOOD people, but as fast as Isolde is able. I just assumed they were going only a little bit faster so that Fallon could accurately analyze Isolde's response...?

[Fallon]

Fallon watched the nuit side step her slow hack, the blade gradually cleaving down into the air whilst her own blade shot forward and into her exposed stomach. Slowing she took it, her body creasing in a slowed reaction to it. Her lip curled, and a firm nod. Isolde backed off, stepping out of the way of the lunge. Taking a step back and creating space once more the squire, “Good, good. You’re picking out points that are exposed. And trying to stay out of range as much as possible.”

She slowly arched the kukri round in retaliation and brought it into a slash, a low mocking swoosh echoing out from underneath. Her left hand however remained fixed in place, solid and firm. Wrist twisting she gave a thrust with it, and lunged. Or at least until the question reached her ears. She withdrew again, and squared herself as she thought. Slowly she turned the blade in her hands, her brow creasing as she mulled over the question.

“How do I block?” her lips pursed together, her eyes narrowing. She took a slow pace around the clearing, drawing away from training for a moment as she mulled over her thoughts. Blocking with a dagger. She was not about to deny it was possible to do so. But even she could work out it was perhaps impractical to do so. Against a blade of equal size then yes, it would be. But a larger weapon, a sword or the like, would have more reach and more weight across the tip. With more reach came a larger area of surface to hit with. Pivoting back round to face the nuit she shook her head.

“I don’t know,” she gave a shrug, “I generally try to aim to close the gap as quickly as possible, to get within their piercing range so they have to pull back to hit affectively.” She paused and contemplated her own words for a moment, “With a dagger you’re better off trying to parry then block. To go as fast as possible and get the maximum number of openings. Pushing the blade to the side, charging roughly into someone, throwing them off balance… though that is more dirty play. Got to be quick, blocking slows it down.”

Clearing her throat the squire took up a stance once more, keen eyes meeting the Nuit’s and watching intently. The pair would at least have a good feel for each other now. Giving a nod Fallon decided it was time to take the next step, “Full speed. Give me a full speed swing. Let me see how fast you are.”
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oocGot it in one. It’s like now Fallon will go as fast as possible for her at the moment, though I think that’s kind of obvious. I’ll put a little X/10 for speed next time.

[Isolde Seibold]

“Full speed. Give me a full speed swing. Let me see how fast you are.”

The Nuit took a deep breath, hesitating for a moment. She was glad Fallon was giving her the chance to start it out, to set the pace. Probably the other girl, more experienced than she --and also alive, and that meant stronger, with faster reflexes-- would be faster than the Nuit. Still... probably her teacher would match her speed.

Well, there was nothing to do than just... do it.

Isolde leapt forward, dagger slashing diagonally down towards Fallon's chest as she approached--

She didn't know what sort of response to expect from the girl, except for what her teacher had just said: one, Fallon would try to get close, and that meant Isolde wanted to keep away, and two, there wasn't going to be blocking, mostly parrying or dodging. Either way she could assume she wouldn't hit Fallon on her first attack--

So as soon as she slashed she let her arm snap back to relative safety, her body following suit, bouncing backwards, hopefully out of range--

Fallon would probably follow her retreat, trying to keep it close, trying to follow up with her own attack--

So the Nuit slid to the left, anticipating the need to dodge--

And then, when the other girl was open, swept in low, swinging an arcing blow up towards the girl's dagger arm, hoping to hit her in the forearm, or even the hand--

And even if she didn't connect, the swing would at least act as a warning to get Fallon to keep her own dagger away--

OOCHah, hopefully this is okay? ^^' I can change the style if you want. A lot of what I do with Isolde is trying to... anticipate my opponent's moves. I'm not really the best at it, though.

[Fallon]

As the blade came down across her, the first move she made was to step back the blade retracting in quickly after her. She threw her weight down onto her front most foot, shoulders lowering her Kukri tip barely came level with her side. There was a momentary pause, eyes growing sharp and staring down upon the Nuit, as she sprung forward. Toes pressed into the earth, a jolt of speed as she worked to close the gap –

Have to go faster. Have to be quick.

- her left hand shot out from the safety from behind her back, fingers open and clawed. She twisted upon her front foot, the once held back left being flipped round so it became the leading side. The clawed hand came sweeping round, extended and ready -

Grasp and grab. Close the gap.

- it followed through, the aim to grab upon whatever was possible. With the Kurki still running parallel with her, and the arching rise of the Nuit’s own blade coming quickly, the squire took the action to greet it. A dull thud of sheaths clattered against each other, once force meeting the other as pressure was applied by both, as Fallon tried to force a parry. The squire slid a foot forward, the arch forming a hooking movement –

Take out the legs. Take out the balance.

- And proceeded to pull forward, whilst her still left hand worked upon giving a hard, definite shove. In theory at least it would work towards pushing her over. If not, then who knew what would happen? Not a lot, for she would still be locked up within each other’s zones. Unless of course, Isolde decided to try and move again. Which was always an option judging by her words and actions. She leaned forward slightly, working on putting more pressure into it.

Let’s see what you’ve got next.
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[Isolde Seibold]

Fallon came forward, faster than she was expecting, and--

And her left hand came with her step?
Petch!

Isolde smacked at the squire's left hand with her own as it came up trying to grab her, but the action was belated, not having expected such a move... so Fallon was able to latch on, holding her from jumping back, and the girl's dagger was swinging in--

Isolde's left arm was incapacitated at the moment, tangled with Fallon's, so she brought up her own dagger, and it was a miracle, she was actually able to catch Fallon's blade with her own--

And then the squire applied pressure, and the Nuit struggled to match it with a grunt. Sheaths rasped against each other, leather to leather, Isolde gasping out a breath, knowing that she would lose this battle of strengths--

So when Fallon hooked her blade down, breaking their stand-off, slashing towards the Nuit's legs, Isolde tore free of her grip with a cry, just in time to catch a shove against her shoulder, knocking her back. She stumbled, correcting, and went with the movement, getting back into position, quickly retreating, reassessing. Her own left hand was held out, ready for use, no longer confined to her back. Jeez, if she had known she could use it, how to use it, she would have. The left hand would definitely come into play now, broadening her range of moves.

Speaking of which...

Switching tactics, the Nuit flew forward towards the squire, slashing down towards Fallon's shoulder as she did, to keep her back or force her to catch the blow--

Striking out with her left hand half a tick later, a fist readied to catch the other girl in the throat or chin or face, whichever, the blow just another distraction, to keep Fallon busy--

So that Isolde could bring her real attack into play, a follow-up stab hard down at the girl's collarbone...

She didn't like bringing it in close to Fallon, but the other girl seemed really aggressive in her style, so Isolde would try to match that. It would help her figure out how Fallon would react to receiving attacks instead of doling them out.

[Fallon]

Fallon snapped herself back to her first stance, blade leading, her left hand tucked behind her back. Eyes burned and locked with the Nuit’s, eyes watching where the eyes went and darted too. She remembered once hearing that it was a tell tale sign as to where the person was going for next, but whether or not it was true was a completely different question all together. She hovered there, resting on her toes as she caught her breath.

Not that she was given long. Isolde flew forwards, a quick step guiding her onwards. An offence instead of a defence. It made a change to say the least, and so Fallon responded to it. The first slash came down at her, and the Kukri came up to try and push it away. Not before she felt the fist catch her in the jaw. Feet called her, the forward most knee bending out of reaction. Her foot rose, her thigh coming parallel as the dull thud of sheaths rung against each other.

Make space! Push back! Attack!

Her foot went forward, the instep aiming for Isolde. She did not particularly care where it went, as long as it hit and made space. She released the air in her lungs, the leg snapping out as the dagger shot towards her. The muscles tensed, the Kukri raising as she thought about the one thing she could so.

Move!

So the girl did. The point pressed against her collarbone, her back foot forced into pivoting round. Her back arched, her once kicked foot forced into recoiling and then to be thrown against the ground with force. She gave a stagger, a fight to gain balance. She gripped the hilt tightly and threw herself at the Isolde, the blade aiming to hook round and onto her back. If at all possible that was. She forced the gap to close, making the space as small as possible between them. It was time to make a comeback.

If her body did not protest first that was.
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[Isolde Seibold]

The Nuit was shocked when her cool knuckles actually smacked against Fallon's jaw. She brought her hand back, wincing not from pain but in automatic, silent apology. She hadn't thought she'd get through--

Then she regretted taking the precious time to allow herself to feel sorry. Fallon's foot lashed out and caught her in the side of the knee, sudden and painful, and her leg nearly buckled from the unexpected blow. Luckily Isolde had already been stabbing her own dagger down at Fallon's collarbone, or the fight would've ended there when the Nuit staggered from the kick. She told herself to keep to her feet, to get back, get away, which was always her first instinct--

But as she wobbled backwards, still unsteady, Fallon was coming forward, coming close, and there barely any room between them--

The Nuit felt constricted, panicking, seeing the kukri arch in wide, aiming to stab into her back--

And automatically Isolde slammed out both of her arms at once, stepping forward with the push. It was a natural response, plain and simple, to get Fallon away. A two-handed shove, one of her palms on each of Fallon's shoulders, intent on knocking the girl away--

She felt the squire's dagger, aiming to hook into her back, go skittering off the cloth of her vest at an angle. Had this been a real fight, it wouldn't have managed to stab her, as Fallon had probably intended... but it would have definitely sliced open a nice long cut between her shoulder blades. Shyke.

The Nuit side-stepped after she gave her shove. The push had been to make some room... the side-step to make even more. To give herself some space. She needed space if she wanted to properly react to the fight. If she didn't have time to study her opponent's movement she most definitely wouldn't have time for her sluggish reflexes to respond. Keeping distance was important to her, when she wasn't on the offensive.

She kept going sideways, curving around her opponent as Fallon kept watching her, never taking her eyes away. The Nuit darted in, knife slicing through the air, then recoiled back, a test, a feint, something to keep Fallon from making her own move while the Nuit bought time. Her leg still felt a little sore and she was waiting for it to fully recover, but the pain from the kick was already fading. Most likely she hadn't been hit as hard as she could have been. Probably that was because this fight was not in earnest. Just practice.

Still, as soon as her leg was better the Nuit stepped back in, coming closer again to her opponent. She made a slash for Fallon's dagger arm, hoping to lock their blades again. This time she'd be ready for it, and would push with all her might to force the girl to take a step back. And when she did... Isolde would try to lash out her own leg to hook her foot behind Fallon's, hopefully tripping her up and allowing for a follow-up attack.

[Fallon]

Balance was never Fallon’s forte. With her arm extended out, the ideals of the gap to be closed rising in her mind and reaching forth into an attack. She did not consider however the thought of a push so firm that it would cause her to loose balance. If anything she expected the nuit to back away – or curl up within herself in defence. The dulled scrape of the kukri struck against the back, dragging its way across whilst the palms struck their aim.

The shove sent her backwards, a foot slipping underneath and out. There was a moment of suspension, the distinct feeling of nothingness beneath her. Her target lost, a new one quickly approached her. The very ground itself was to meet her back, and in turn would leave her vulnerable for an assault. It was on this occasion however that the squire had little choice but to look away. Her attention was snatched by something far more important.

Forcing herself to twist, Fallon felt her shoulder crash against the ground whilst the other focused on maintaining its grip on the hilt. She could not afford to let go, not yet at least. The shoulder crashed against the earth, the force shooting through as it struck. Movement of Isolde came from her blind spot, the skimming of a feint causing her guard to raise once more. The flesh of her palm pressed against the earth, her back exposed and open for damage. Toes pressed up underneath her, legs constricting to make space and spring away.

Her head turned back to see the nuit closing in, eyes focusing wide upon her. Movement was forced, the strain of muscles reaching her as she was forced into her own retreat. Springing forwards, the squire gripped the kukri tightly, chest heaving as she glanced upon her opponent. Unlike her she could tire, she needed to breath; she had a heart that tired and strained under stress. Isolde however, well she was not sure. She only seemed to be slightly pained by her earlier kick.

Then again, that slash would have left a mark too.

Taking a wide arch round, the squire lined herself up once more, taking the outer edge where she could. There was little time to register the slash to her arm, her first thought to simply step out of the way to which then she stepped into her ploy. The foot hooked round, a moment of alarm smothering her face as the trip came suddenly and sharply.

She landed a lot heavier this time.

A crunch, followed by a distinctive groan of discomfort. It reminded her slightly of the beating she would have received at the training grounds. Except perhaps slightly more embarrassing. Her jaw clenched her hold released on the blade. This was no fight for her life, it was only training. It meant they could stop whenever. It still hurt though.

There was a swallow, the steady rise and fall of her chest, before finally the squire let out a swallow, “Can we… take a few please? Bit out of breath here.”
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[Isolde Seibold]

If the Nuit was shocked the first time Fallon hit the ground, then she was flabbergasted the second.

It wasn't like she had ever even considered that her plan to trip Fallon might actually work. Not like this. Not sending the squire down hard to the land they had cleared, not making her groan in discomfort or pain.

So when Fallon fell the Nuit stumbled over her, trying not to step on her, keeping her feet free, letting her momentum sputter and die. She didn't try to press her advantage. She didn't try to follow through. She just halted, lowering her dagger, the uncertainty and anxiousness breaking out over her features.

There was a moment where she considered that this might, just might, be a trap. And then Fallon spoke:

“Can we… take a few please? Bit out of breath here.”

Well, if it is a trap I'm fool enough to fall for it.

Isolde hurried over, leaning forward and holding out one small, cool hand. Simply offering to help Fallon up. As she did she said, "You s-sure you're alright? Take all the t-time you need."

As soon as the other girl was on her feet, Isolde released her hand, not wanting to seem invasive, not wanting to violate a person's personal space, not wanting to offend by being too close too long. So she made a point to wander away, idly switching her soft gaze from tree to tree, giving Fallon room to breathe and stretch --if needed. Every once and a while she'd shake out her leg or stoop to rub a hand over her knee. No bruise, she thought. Just a little sore. Most of the pain had already faded, and soon would be little more than a memory. Only lasting injuries tended to irritate her for longer than a few chimes.

The rough handle of her dagger --inlaid with a silver, woodland design-- felt smooth against her palm, and the Nuit looked down at it. Admiring the make of the weapon, wondering who it had once belonged to, and how important it had been to them. It had certainly become important to her now. Having it on hand, being able
--however poorly-- to use it... well, it gave her a measure of strength that she had not had before. Of surety. Once, not long ago in fact, she would have given it away without a second thought if ordered to. Now she wasn't so sure. Now she wanted to hold onto it. It actually meant something to her. Running along those lines, a thought skittered back to mind, and, since they were taking a break, the Nuit judged that now might be an appropriate time to bring it up.

Hopefully Fallon wouldn't mind answering a question or two.

The Nuit cleared her throat to bring her companion's attention to her, turning to face the girl, ceasing her own gentle wandering in favor of quiet conversation. "S-So. So actually, n-now that we're taking a breather, uh. I came up with a question, earlier." She waited for a beat to see if Fallon would object to her continuing on. Since it didn't look that way, the Nuit figured she had been allowed to forge ahead. "Actually, I was wondering... H-Have you ever heard of a sort of br-brace used to attach a dagger to y-your arm? I k-know it may sound odd, but I was thinking that it might be u-useful to be able to leash your weapon to your arm so th-that it couldn't be lost if it was knocked from your g-grasp in battle. H-Have you ever encountered anything like that?" She paused for a moment, then looked down, dragging a foot through some dirt. "I d-don't actually know how practical or beneficial something like that might be, or if i-it would just get in the way, or e-even be disadvantageous. I was merely c-curious, it was an idle thought, and s-so I just supposed it w-would be best to ask someone who m-might have a more experienced opinion concerning the matter."

[Fallon]

Fallon took the hand and allowed herself to be hauled up onto her feet. There was brief wince, the dusting down of the dried mud from her limbs. Although accidental that she landed hard, it was still a slight pain to have done so. Perhaps it would be better to up the game and turn the swings so they were with more thought. Fingers rubbed at the back of her head, brushing away the lumps of dirt before she finally looked once more onto the Nuit.

She had retreated to the side for now, lost within her own musings. The squire did not interrupt though, and instead tended to her own blade and its sheath cover. There was a purse of lips, the tracing of the plain hilt as she slowed her breathing. Her back straightened the pushing aside of thought, an attempt to clear her mind. Ears twitched, listening to the click of beaks, the snapping of branches as the local fauna continued on around them. Eyes half shut, the gentle inhaling and filling of lungs. It was calm, peaceful. For the moment at least.

Isolde’s voice beckoned her, and awoke her from her daydream musings. Eyes turning she listened to the stuttering of the Nuit, the question hovering there in the air. She chewed at her lip, “A leash for a weapon…?”

There was a long, thoughtful hum. She rubbed at her jaw, brow knitting together. In honesty she had not heard of such a thing. She tried to imagine the end of the Kukri pommel to have a string attached to it, with the other end attached to her wrist. Eyes narrowed as she tried to think it through in her mind. Although she could understand it, and what Isolde was trying to achieve with the idea with it, she could not help but feel there was little point to it.

That and she had the strange image of the dagger simply swaying tauntingly back and forth before her. Or getting snagged up on something. Or simply just getting in the way. But that may also be due to her distaste to the idea of being bound. Lips twisted, and her jaw clicked.

“Haven’t heard of anything like that I’m afraid,” she shook her head and rocked on her heels, “But… honestly? It seems like a bad idea to me. I mean, it entirely depends on what it’s made from, how long it is, the weight, the nature of combat… lots of things. Maybe it would work for you. Dunno. I’d be afraid that it would snag on something, or the enemy would grab hold of it.”

Yawning, the girl stretched out her arm and rolled her shoulders, feeling them stiffen and twinge. She had a distinct feeling she was going to be a lot slower now to say the least. She rubbed at her joints, a heavy sigh being exhaled as she looked once more upon the nuit. In honesty she was far from the mindset of leaping back into combat. But this was not for her experience, this was for Isolde. Fallon would just have to cater.

“So did you want another bout? Or are you okay for now?”
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