A Different Kind of Puppet (Xalet)

[Aello]

Aello's blade struck at nothing, causing her to grit her teeth. She had been so certain that she had had him, even as his sword swept past uselessly, cutting through the air. Her eyes followed Xalet's form, as he stumbled back, as she reeled her weapon in. Her instinct told her to follow him, urging her form onward as she watched him fall on his rear. His heavy armor dragging him down. In that instant, Aello knew she would have enough time to finish him. She practically galloped over to him, taking time to step on his armored legs, his chest, as she turned her blade. As she pushed it past her face, and lowered her body into a kneel. As she swept her blade back down rapidly, bringing it closer to the Akalak's forehead. The metal flashed dangerously in the light of the sun. As the cool breeze it produced buffeted Aello's flesh, and then came to a sudden halt. The blade's tip stopping but a fraction of an inch before it pierced Xalet's dark blue skin, a little above the space just between his eyes. Aello's chest rose and fell rapidly as she held the blade there. "Had this been real squire, you'd now be dead." She paused, as her heart pounded in her chest like a drum. She knew, if he was truly listening, that he could hear it. "Everything you tried to fight for would be lost." She lifted her blade up again, but only a fraction of an inch. "You have much to learn Akalak, for you depend too much on the familiar, never allowing yourself to truly give into the possibilities, the unknown." With that, Aello pulled her blade away, returning it to her side. She'd step off of Xalet's chest, delicately, so as not to inflict further pain, as she moved over to his side, and stared down at him, into his tired eyes. "There is more that I could teach you, should you provide me with the time. But... it should be saved for another day, when we are both well-rested and ready." Aello extended her left hand, offering it to the squire as a way up. She knew that his armor was heavy, and that he may struggle to right himself on his own. "Maybe we'll be together tomorrow, should you follow, it's not as though either of us know where we're going." Aello smiled weakly as she sheathed her dagger. She could only hope that he'd take her hand. OOCOk, in case it's unclear, Aello will basically be kneeling on Xalet's chest should things happen this way. Also, if it doesn't happen this way... ignore a lot of this. >.< P.S. Feel free to post again, and wrap up, or leave this as is, if you would rather have it graded and move onto phase two?

[Xalet]

Xalet really had a knack for finding and fighting highly skilled opponents, it seemed. As he lay upon the ground, with the dull grey winter sky stretching above him, blotted out in places by the foliage of the wilds he couldn't help but recognize the preciousness of his situation. With that preciousness was a certain oddness as well. There was a young woman a top of him, by if you compared their sizes it could seem more like a child straddling a grown man. She certainly had a way of overcoming Xalet's size and strength advantage. He hadn't held back either, not like he used to when fighting women, something Xuphim had never managed to succeed in doing.

Speaking of which, "Way to suck. Bravo. Next season I'm doing the training for our body, because seriously, what the petch have you been doing these last years?" Xuphim groaned at the unimpressive showing from his lighter half.

"She's very skilled." Xalet responded rather simply, not in the mood to argue after barely being able to catch his breath. His thoughts were on more important things, like thinking about just what he could have done better. He responded appropriately, and stayed within the bounds of his training, for the most part. Did this mean he should leave those boundaries completely in order to improve? Would that be a worthy sacrifice?

"Yeah, but you're not supposed to ADMIT that she's skilled. She's a woman, you've got a duty to be better than her, somehow. Next thing you know you'll be in the kitchen mixing cider and serving up grits." Those words themselves had Xalet wondering 'who was the jackass now?' to himself. Xuphim certainly had a way with words, which was to say, 'poor'. In some sort of distorted way Xalet understood that the dark half was essentially implying that a man should protect a woman, but Xuphim seemed to go into chauvinistic territory with his opinions.

"I can't say you're wrong. Consequently..." Xalet continued between breathes, "...you should recognize that your skill is superior to quite a few members of the Ebonstryfe." he felt it necessary to comment. It didn't really require stating, but Aello's skill in combat was even beyond his own Patron, a Sergeant within the Knights, someone whom he had pitted his blade against in the past. Xalet had another hurdle to overcome as well. His short sword, while very similar to his gladius, was different just enough to require extra thought when wielding. It seemed he would need to practice becoming one with a blade yet again.

Whether or not their theories and philosophies different, Xalet wasn't about to turn down the chance to gain some knowledge and training from someone with as much skill, whether natural or learned, as Aello had. Some people were just talented in combat. As much as Xalet wished to be, he simply wasn't. Every inch of skill he'd learned had been through constant, grueling training, stretching his limits and battering his body. As if to accept her proposal he gripped her hand in his, and realized just how small it seemed. Hands of that size had defeated him, and he felt the competitive blood of the Akalak quicken within him. "I accept."

[Liar]

EXPERIENCE AWARD Aello Skill Points Dagger 3 Observation 2 Dual Wield 2 Teaching 2 Acrobatics 2 Throwing Dagger 1 Wilderness Survival 1 Land Navigation 1 Intimidation 1 Rhetoric 1 Persuasion 1 Lore Calming an Animal The Flight from Oppression Underestimated Dodging an Honorable Sword Ebonstryfe Combat Strategy Instructing a Syliran Straddling an Akalak Notes Intimidation and persuasion for her debating style, though I think Aello came off as a little too eloquent for her rhetoric skill level and history. WS for the advice at the beginning, land navigation for estimating distance based on time, acrobatics for dodging. Also, I understand that your use of fragments is artistic, but you might want to consider a few more commas. Xalet Skill Points Shortsword 3 Shield 3 Horsemanship 2 Rhetoric 2 Unarmed Combat 2 Observation 2 Riding 1 Land Navigation 1 Negotiation 1 Body building 1 Acrobatics 1 Lore A Knight and His Steed Courtesy, Even in Wilderness A Cultural Divide Slowing a Swift Opponent The Dishonorable and Unmerciful Ebonstryfe The Evantia Aura Versus a Quick-Footed Rogue Trust in Armor Notes Rhetoric and negotiation for his debating style, body building for using strength against speed, acrobatics for dodging even though you fell. It should be noted that apostrophes should never be used in plural nouns, and used in all possessive nouns except its. Other This is certainly a unique premise for a first encounter, and an amusing beginning to what should be a fruitful relationship. Nice work. I gave you both lores concerning your tactics instead of tactics points. If you would prefer to receive points, PM me to exchange them for the lores.