002 ⚔ Video

[danceofcurse]

So, how many of you actually know how to fight?

[Van's lounging outside beneath the low-hanging limb of a willow, rays of sunlight peeking between the fine leaves and spindly branches to cast moving shadows over his face. In the changing light, his eyes look red and then brown, but they never lose their sharpness. This is a young man who doesn't appear to smile as often as most boys his age.]

I don't like fighting, myself. [An understatement, but his tone also implies he recognizes the necessity for it. So too does the sword next to him, the blue scabbard and gold-tipped hilt as pristine and polished as the bare blade that rests at its side.] But ever since I arrived it's become pretty obvious that, as imPorts, we don't have the luxury of not defending ourselves and the people we care about. To be honest...I'm used to that. It wasn't much different back home. Of course, we didn't have modern weapons...

But that's a bit beside the point.

[He sits up with a sigh, one gloved hand pushing unkempt black hair out of his eyes, though it falls again right back into place.]

I'm looking for sparring partners. People who know how to use a sword, specifically, but it doesn't matter what sort of weapon you wield as long as you're experienced and you know what you're doing. I want to be more prepared for what this place might throw at us. We all should be.

Comments

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[helpline]

I once went toe-to-toe with Robin Hood. You're on with a sword match!

[ the Doctor's just conveniently ignoring the fact that when he went toe-to-toe, he used a spoon. ]

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[danceofcurse]

I have no idea who that is, but...do you even have a sword?

[He recalls a weird pair of glasses, but not any pointy objects.]

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[helpline]

Well I had one but there was something about 'historic artifacts' and 'even if you help save the day Doctor, that doesn't mean you can take a sword' and 'it belongs in a museum.'

[ he had a sword during the 'let's stop Calendar Man's Uncle Sam from wrecking things.' he has no sword now. :c ]

I'm working on getting one, though!

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[danceofcurse]

I see.

[Van smirks fondly.]

If you can't find one, that facility in Nonah should have something, shouldn't it? Not that you'd be able to keep anything from there, either...

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[helpline]

But I could at least borrow it until I find a proper sword to call my own. You know Van, that's a wonderful idea.

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[danceofcurse]

Just...if you get in trouble for lifting it from the facility, don't tell them it was my idea.

[Because it wasn't.]

So, just how experienced does going toe-to-toe with Robin Hood make you?

[fargoneconclusion]

[ This world is unbelievable. Another kid on the Network, and this one wants to train. It's admirable, but North can't help being unnerved by his youth. ]

Aren't you a little young for edged weapons?

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[helpline]

I'd say it makes me fairly experienced! He is Robin Hood, after all.

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[danceofcurse]

I still have no idea who that is, but I'll take it to mean you don't want me going easy on you, and that's fine.

Do you have free time this evening? I could meet you in Nonah.

[danceofcurse]

I'm fifteen. I'm not that young.

[Not by Gaean standards, anyway.]

Where I'm from, if you can hold a sword on your own, you're ready to learn how to use it.

[fargoneconclusion]

[ By North standards, he's too young to be drafted into a war, but he's willing to consider other cultures to an extent. ]

Fifteen is about half my age. I bet you'd think it was weird if an eight-year-old was asking for sparring partners.

It's a nice-looking sword for a guy who doesn't like fighting. Are you any good with it yet?

[danceofcurse]

[Unfortunately, Van wasn't given much of a choice with regards to getting involved in the war back on Gaea, and things aren't much different here. He can't expect everyone to do his fighting for him. That's just not the kind of person he is...and it's far from the kind of king he wants to be when he returns home.]

I wouldn't think it weird...just sad. But it happens.

[It'd happened to him, even. His brother disappeared when he was just a boy, and with both of his parents dead, he'd had to learn how to fight at a very early age. No one could take the throne of Fanelia if they couldn't fight and kill a dragon, after all.

His hand falls upon the blade at his side and draws it closer with that memory and when the stranger mentions his weapon.]

I was trained by one of the best. [Balgus. That wound still feels terribly fresh some days.] I don't expect you to take my word for it, though.

[He'd rather let his skills speak for themselves. But while he is good, there is definitely still room for a lot of growth.]

[tactical_lalafel]

I wield magic in battle, not a blade. But if you'd like help training, I could stand to keep my hand in.

[danceofcurse]

You can use magic?

[It's not what he had in mind, but he definitely sounds interested. Swords and other melee weapons won't be the only things he'll come up against, after all.]

What sort, if you don't mind me asking?

[tactical_lalafel]

Fire, ice, and lightning are the heart of a thaumaturge's arsenal in battle.

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[helpline]

Right, sword practice and then movie night.

[ that's a yes, he does have free time. ]

[voice]

[khaleesipls]

I do.

[ Matter-of-fact.

Hard to say from voice alone, but this man sounds like he's older than 15. ]

[danceofcurse]

Fire, huh?

[Van grins a little.]

Maybe we can spar, and if you want, you can use your magic. It would probably be good experience for the both of us, and since you seem interested, I can give you pointers in how to use a sword, too.

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[danceofcurse]

Movie night?

[voice]

[danceofcurse]

[Age doesn't mean much, but it does usually lend to experience, and the confidence in the speaker's voice isn't missed or taken for granted at all.]

I take that to mean you're also looking for someone to train with?

[khaleesipls]

I could use the practice.

[ He hasn’t seen anyone else strutting around with a sword. ]

[danceofcurse]

Alright.

[Van seldom goes anywhere without his sword, but most people aren't as attached to their weapons as he is. When they're inherited, though...they tend to mean more.]

I'm Van. And you are? Just so I know who I'll be crossing blades with.

[tactical_lalafel]

Oh, I've no interest in learning to swing a blade, thank you. But even in the best of times a battlemage needs to be able to handle an enemy getting past his defender.

[Malms grins back, confidence in his skill clear on the Lalafell's face.]

And maybe you'll learn a thing or two about how to deal with magic in the fray.

[khaleesipls]

Ser Jorah Mormont.

[ For better or for worse, Mormont knows all about the weight an inherited sword wields.

The one he carries now is more just a heavy instrument for hacking into people. ]

Where should we meet?

[danceofcurse]

Fair enough.

[Van nods.]

I've some idea with how to deal with fire-wielding opponents, though. Do you think your magic can compare with a dragon's breath?