Practice, Practice, Practice. And stuff. {Markus}

[Lilith]

5th of Spring 511 AV Just outside Syliras... The sun was high, which meant the heat was going to rise, if only slightly. There was a breeze, however, which nearly caused Lilith to freeze as her sweat laden body began to cool. She brought up her arm and pressed the sleeve of her white shirt against her forehead, wiping the wetness away. Panting, she knelt and placed her hands against her leather pants, catching her breath. The dancer had been jogging for an hour or so, trying to keep up her weekly exercise routine. Her legs were aching and her lungs were burning, a testament to her negligence. She looked up from her resting position to watch the gate quietly. Syliras had truly caused her to deny her bodily needs. She wasn’t eating as well as she should, first off, but then she had neglected to keep her body in suitable shape... Lilith stood up straight and redid the ponytail that kept her thick hair out of her eyes. She sighed as her hands moved skillfully, feeling the brush of long hair against her back. Finished, she felt the muscle in her right arm and grimaced. Even with her dancing, her arms were losing their beloved lean muscle. Frowning, she looked to her right and began to walk, leaving the road. Just beyond the trees lay a pretty meadow, where Lilith sat and thought. In Sunberth, she had practiced endurance work with her arms, though they had been her dance master’s drills. Lilith could not remember them vividly, but she could remember the muscles they ached. She lay there for another minute or so, allowing her body to relax before she stood and took a stance. And then she began to...practice? It looked rather silly. She let out cries, pushing air out as she brought one fist forward and breathing in as she returned it to her side. The dancer attempted to combine arm isolations with this strength training, but it felt much too awkward. But what could she do? She did her best. She didn’t have much of a choice. Her body was beginning to feel weak. Lilith continued her routine, feeling utterly stupid as she tried to figure out what would work for her exercise.

[Markus Andres]

Markus was out running. Feeling the burn in his thighs and calves as he was running. He was wearing a simple white cloth shirt and a black pair of cloth pants held up by a leather belt. On his back, his grandfather's large bastard sword was strapped. It was the easiest place for him to carry it when he was out running and he wouldn't leave the city without being armed in some way or another. Markus liked to train, he didn't think of it as a necessary evil. He even felt bad if he hadn't been out running for a day or two. It was a part of the hellish discipline his master and, later, himself had put on him. It was also visible as Markus shirt did little to hide his very muscular frame. Markus's path led him close to some strange sounds. Was someone in trouble? Markus reached up and put his right hand on the sheathed sword and moved closer to where the strange sounds originated from. He soon found the woman who made those sounds and also saw that she was alright. Or. Physically alright, for it seemed very strange to be out there during some weird exercise. If that was an exercise. It wasn't one he had done before. He sneaked closer to get a better look at what the woman was doing. But he had only taken four or five steps before he realized that he was looking very suspicious. Watching a woman exercise, or whatever, in the wilderness. He didn't want a random knight patrol think he was a stalker or rapist waiting for the right moment to jump out. Markus simply stepped out and called out to the woman. "Hey, sorry if I interrupt, but I was wondering if everything was alright. And what were you doing?" - She would see a tall and very muscular man if she turned to look at him.

[Lilith]

Lilith jumped when she heard a male voice call out to her, completely surprised. She was not expecting anyone to pay attention to her, let alone try to speak with her. The dancer lowered her hands and looked toward the source of the sound and saw a handsome youth. She could see a handle poking up over his shoulder, which probably connected with some sort of sword. So he was well armed. His clothes weren’t made for traveling and she didn’t see a pack, which brought her to the conclusion that he was some sort of knight. Or something. The dancer looked around her and shrugged in reply to his inquiry, smiling sheepishly. “I don’t see any would-be attackers, so I think I’m alright,” she said, watching him curiously. “I was...exercising? Sort of. I can’t remember my old drills. My trainer used to use hand-to-hand combat for strength training.” She brought her arms up and stretched before bringing her hands to rest on her hips. “You seem to be knowledgeable about that sort of stuff, though. I’m sure you know a thing or two about that, right?”

[Markus Andres]

"Good good, I just heard some strange screams and I thought you might be in danger." Markus explained himself. He couldn't help but notice her slender frame when she stretched out. Markus' discipline caught his act and forced his eyes up again and focused on the woman's brown eyes. She wanted him to show her how to exercise through hand to hand combat. "I know some things about hand to hand and I know some tips to exercising. But what are you interested in? Both or just getting into shape again?" Markus held a short pause, but before the stranger could respond, he would speak again. Making himself clear. "Of course, I am interested to help in either case." He would let the woman answer him then, whether he should just put her through one of his... Milder... Training routines or if he should show her how to protect herself from an attacker. But she had specifically mentioned exercise. Markus rarely combined strength exercise with his usual combat oriented training routines. "I am Markus Andres, squire to Stern Mason." Markus said holding out his hand for her to shake.

[Lilith]

Lilith shrugged, flexing her fist. “I’m not exactly out of shape, I just...don’t remember the drills from my training, which is an inconvenience. When I’m not able to dance, it would be best to keep my peak.” He offered a class on both exercise and self-defense, which immediately perked her interest. She looked at him and bit the corner of her lip, thinking. She knew how to use a knife...decently. And there was no question that she was strong, regardless of how her thin body looked. She could hold her own in theory, but she admittedly didn’t know how to throw a good right hook. That knowledge might come in handy. Lilith came to a conclusion. She gave him a smile. “How about you give me a short lesson on both? I’m not much of a fighter, if you can’t tell, and that could lead to some sticky situations.” The man introduced himself and she nodded at his name, already knowing he was some sort of knight. She brought her hand forward and let it grab his, shaking it firmly. “I’m Lilith. You can call me any derivation of the name, it doesn’t really matter.” "I appreciate your help, Markus." she smiled and gestured to the meadow. “Shall we begin?”

[Markus Andres]

"Pleasure to meet you Lilith, give me a second to get rid of my sword. Tends to get in the way." Markus unstrapped the sword and placed it on the ground gently. Then he pushed up his sleeves on his shirt. So his very buff arms were free of any hindrances. He contemplated taking the shirt off completely, but judged that would be too strange. Markus rolled with his shoulders, preparing to teach the dancer what Pain had taught him during the fall season. He walked a bit into the meadow and dropped into a defensive stance. "Look carefully, Lilith, if you should ever find yourself in a fight with someone. Guard your face like this." Markus held his right balled hand close to his chin. His left hand was also balled into a fist and was hovering in front of his face. "It is important to defend your head. But of course, if the other guy is armed and you're not. I would suggest getting out of there instead of fighting." Markus said with a sudden seriousness in his voice. He didn't want Lilith to stand and fight someone armed, while unarmed herself. Markus threw a quick one two combo, a quick jab with his left, followed by a heavier punch with his right. "Remember to look at my feet. Look at this stance." It was as if he had taken a step back with his right and then turned his body 45 degrees to his right. So his left side was the leading side. He clapped his thighs, to draw her attention to his bend legs. "Now let me see you do this." Markus said watching her intently. Looking for any mistakes she might make.

[Chevalier]

Hear Ye Hear Ye, Thou Hast Been Awarded... Lilith +1 Unarmed +1 Running +2 Rhetoric Lores: Aquaintance: Markus Andres Markus +1 Unarmed +1 Running +2 Teaching Lores: Aquaintance: Lilith How Hath This Occurred? : And here we are.