Sparring [Unnamed]

[03:05] <hornedJack> [It's with a vague sense of unease that you find yourself heading over towards Reue's land. He sent over an invitation a couple hours ago, for you to come and spar with him, and you decided to take him up on it.]
[03:05] <hornedJack> [You're not entirely sure if that's a good idea.]
[03:06] <hornedJack> [But... well, you're not going to get better with certain things by avoiding them. And who knows, maybe you won't have anything to worry about.]
[03:06] <hornedJack> [You'll just have to wait and see.]
[03:06] <hornedJack> [Make your way down the spire, to where Reue's directed you.]
04[03:10] <TBW> [It's not the same floor that Calix visited before, but it's similar in style. Open, tall cielings and bright lights. A slightly bouncy wooden floor is in the centre of the room. And it's where you're currently standing. Using a plain wooden staff and going through a set of precise motions. Attack, block, movement.]
04[03:11] <TBW> [Theres a small ding when Calix entres the room, and you stop and make a small bow. "Harmony to you. I hope you are well?"]
[03:16] <hornedJack> [Pause just inside the door and grin at him, looking more than a little out of place. "Yeah, 'm good. You?" Wonder suddenly if you're meant to take your boots off. This seems like the kinda situation where shoes are somehow rude. It's somehow got a bit of a Japanese dojo feel- though not quite as though that specific aesthetic's been adopted.]
04[03:20] <TBW> [Smile back. You're not wearing any footwear yourself. "I'm well. Questing goes acceptably, and my land is very pleasant." Walk over. "I'm glad you decided to come over. I haven't had a sparring partner in some time."]
[03:23] <hornedJack> ["Ah, yeah, well-" You're attempting to not hop around too much as you tug your boots off to set down next to the door. "Gotta warn again, I ain't done a whole lot of sparring. But I'll do my best not to fall on my ass too much." Dust your hands and wriggle your toes a bit. "So." Pause, having no idea what to do now.]
02[03:28] * waterloggedDrifter ([email protected]) Quit (Quit: http://www.mibbit.com ajax IRC Client)
04[03:30] <TBW> [You wait for him to get his boots off before walking to the square, twenty feet to a side. A variety of training weapons on a rack on the wall. "In Thel, sparring was normally done to three points. A point for each valid hit that would, in a real situation, deal sufficient harm. Most limb hits would not count. Throwing an opponent to the ground with speed and force is also a point, though a recovery negates it." Despite generally leaving you open to a normal hit. "No pauses, but five seconds must pass between points. Two hits immediately after the other will not count. A throw combined with a strike counts for full though."]
03[03:30] * TBW is now known as Reue
[03:35] <hornedJack> [Follow him over towards the rack, peering at what's there. You know how to use an axe in combat- but beyond that and improvised weapons, you haven't got a lot of weapons experience. "Okay..."]
04[03:37] <Reue> [You place the staff back on the rack, then wait just off-centre of the square. Hands held behind your back. "Feel free to choose any."]
[03:54] <hornedJack> [Glance over the stuff on the rack, and then decide your lack of experience is probably going to only trip you up, and move onto the square, hands loose and open at your side. Shove your sleeves up. You're wearing a long-sleeved shirt and jeans, same as usual- not super baggy, but not exactly tightly fitting.]
04[03:59] <Reue> [Interesting. You weren't expecting that. You take another small bow before taking a fighting stance, left leg slightly forward, arms held up at the ready. You, in contrast, are wearing a tight fitting t-shirt as well as unadorned pants that are a little more loose. "Whenever you are ready, you may begin." You state. Waiting for him to make the first move.]
[04:03] <hornedJack> [Try to shove your pride down, and resign yourself to having your ass handed to you. Whatever lets you make friends in a session for once. Raise your hands and take what's almost a boxing stance.]
[04:05] <hornedJack> [Throw a punch, aiming for his cheek, not really putting your full weight into it, mostly testing to see how fast or hard Reue will respond.]
04[04:07] <Reue> [You respond quickly, stepping forward the same time you deflect the punch to the side. The other hand coming across to attempt to land a blow on his own cheek.]
[04:10] <hornedJack> [Grunt as the blow hits, and step back. Shake your head slightly. It stings, but it wasn't a proper punch. Either he's holding back as well, or he's not as strong as you thought. You're inclined to suspect the former.]
04[04:12] <Reue> [You take a step back to dis-engage. Then move in yourself. Jabbing with your foot at his toes. Trying to draw his attention to that until you spot an opening. Feet wouldn't count for a hit, but they do work as a distraction.]
[04:14] <hornedJack> [It works, because you weren't really expecting an attack on your feet. Step back hurriedly, with a muffled "fuck", and lash out with a fist, the other hand and arm still pulled in in an attempt at defense.]
04[04:17] <Reue> [Duck under the fist and jab in to his open side, the room not allowing for a full hit, but it'll be painful at any rate. Push him from behind as you stand up. If it sends him spawling, it'll be an easy third point, if not, it'll give you the room you need to reset.]
[04:20] <hornedJack> [You go down, definitely sprawling. You hadn't realised just how bad you are at any sort of formally organised fighting. As you catch your breath and rest your forehead and horns against the floor, moving your arms to get yourself back up, you're gritting your teeth.]
[04:20] <hornedJack> [This was a bad idea. But you can't bring yourself to say anything.]
04[04:20] <Reue> [Hit him in the back with just enough force to justify scoring that third point in your mind.]
[04:22] <hornedJack> [The hit landing just as you were trying to get up, when you had been thinking you'd have space to regather yourself, you freeze for a moment. Wrath quivers. "Three to you, I guess," you mutter.]
04[04:23] <Reue> [You nod, and offer a hand up. "I could help you get better if you would like?" That was frankly disappointing in your mind, though you don't let that show.]
[04:24] <hornedJack> [Take the hand. "Lemme try again?" You're regretting the words even as they come out, eyes diverted away from Reue.]
04[04:26] <Reue> [Maybe he was testing you? It's not outside the range of possibilities. "If you would like." You go to the opposite side of the half-way line and resume your fighting stance.]
[04:33] <hornedJack> [Roll your shoulders back, try to find- try to find /any/ point where you've felt like you were a little more skilled than just throwing wild punches. Your hands are only half raised, fingers curled, this time. Wait for Reue to make a move.]
04[04:36] <Reue> [Edge in slowly, circling just a bit. Trying to figure out what's going on. Keep pressing in, until you're close enough. You make a fake punch to draw his attention with your left arm, then throw the real punch with your right, going for his chin. This'll sting, not pulling your punch on this one.]
[04:39] <hornedJack> [Your arm moves up to block the fake throw, and your head jerks back as he lands the one on your chin. "Gnnk-"]
[04:40] <hornedJack> [Angry, you lower your horns, and jab down at his ribcage, gritting your teeth again.]
04[04:44] <Reue> [Step back and grab his arm, throwing your leg over top of him and throwing your weight on his now over-extended appendage. Trying to force him to the ground, where you can get the last point with a quick tap on whatever is closest.]
[04:51] <hornedJack> [Throw your weight in the opposite direction, shoving your shoulder against his leg, a snarl slipping out as you try to drag him down with you.]
04[04:52] <Reue> [The end result is just that, both of you collapsing to the ground. You unwrap your leg and try to roll away.]
[04:56] <hornedJack> [Scramble less elegantly up to your feet.]
04[04:57] <Reue> [First time he's surprised you, you give a small nod and move in closer again. Giving a fast kick aimed at his side.]
[04:59] <hornedJack> [The closest arm comes down to block, the other hand grabbing at his leg simultaneously, trying to trap and yank him towards you and off-balance.]
04[05:03] <Reue> [Press off with your other leg as you bend the knee of the trapped one, shortening the distance between the two of you as the now bent leg is pressing against Calix's chest. Trying to make him release your leg or trip at the sudden force.]
[05:09] <hornedJack> [It's not something you were expecting- but you manage to keep your grip, though it's clumsy, and try to drag him sideways and topple him again.]
04[05:11] <Reue> [You're ready for it this time. Balancing on your free leg you jab at his body with your hands. Either he's going to keep conceding points or he'll have to let go.]
[05:18] <hornedJack> ["Stop," you snap, as the first blow hits your shoulder. But even as the purple smoke escapes from your mouth, you can feel it's not working, and the shock of the blows on your torso loosens your grip on his leg.]
02[05:18] * @waifishWatcher ([email protected]) Quit (Quit: seeya losers :p)
04[05:26] <Reue> [You pause anyways, but more out of concern than being forced to. You jerk your leg out of his grip and give another quick tap while he's unbalanced to score the third point so this can stop. "What was that." You state, clearly unhappy.]
[05:30] <hornedJack> [Take a step back, not meeting his eyes, but still watching his body, as though expecting the attack to continue. You don't even quite know if three points have been scored or not. "Nothin'. Just happens sometimes."]
04[05:36] <Reue> [That didn't seem like nothing. "You tried to prose me. If that is something that happens sometimes, perhaps you should have more control over it."]
[05:38] <hornedJack> [Your jaw clenches. "It's /fine/." You know your words aren't quite right. "D'you want to fight or /not/." Your eyes flick up to his face briefly, their gold dark and festering.]
04[05:42] <Reue> [You meet his gaze. More concerned than angry. Perhaps the exercise will let him take his anger out. "This is suppose to be what we alone can do. Aspect powers should not be a part of this." Walk over and take a long staff slightly taller than yourself from the weapon rack.]
[05:48] <hornedJack> [Wait, watching him. "I know," you mutter. It doesn't help that you're not much without your aspect, comes the fleeting thought.]
04[05:49] <Reue> [Twirl the staff around before planting it beside you. "You may want to grab a weapon, if there is one you're good at."]
[05:50] <hornedJack> [Move to the rack, and select an axe. May as well stick with what you know. Though, without cutting power, you're limited in what good it might do. And he'll have better range with the staff.]
04[05:54] <Reue> ["Same rules apply." You state. Sliding the staff so your hands are spaced equally from the centre, feet spread apart. Once again waiting for him to make the first move.]
[05:58] <hornedJack> [You hate having the first move. Step forwards, swinging your axe over-arm towards him, expecting to have the swing blocked.]
04[05:59] <Reue> [You raise the staff to block it inbetween your hands. Stepping forward and swinging one end of the staff down towards his head.]
[06:01] <hornedJack> [The staff smacks down on your head, catching you at the base of one of your antlers, your attempt to catch the staff in the 'hook' of the axe sliding uselessly along it, the force all wrong to deflect the blow.]
[06:01] <hornedJack> [Stagger, grip losening on your axe, and drop to one knee.]
04[06:03] <Reue> [Disengage and crouch down. "Are you alright?" You expected more a counter. The blow was relatively hard for the lack of one.]
[06:04] <hornedJack> [Struggle for words, clearly stunned. Let go of the axe and sit heavily.]
04[06:06] <Reue> [Set the staff down. "Should I call for Bethany?" You ask. Standing up and jogging over to a small fridge to get some ice. Wrapping it in a cloth and offering it to Calix.]
[06:08] <hornedJack> [It takes the time for him to go to the fridge and come back again for you to manage to nod. Squeeze your eyes shut, the pain throbbing across your head. Needless to say, your horns are a /really/ bad place to catch a blow. Perhaps you should have warned about this!]
04[06:10] <Reue> [You gently place the icepack where the blow landed the same time you uncaptcha a visor to allow you to contact Bethany.]
04[06:11] <Reue> * etherealParagon PESTERs victorianaRegnant : (Are you busy at the moment? Calix has taken a hard blow to the head during sparring and has asked for you.)
[06:12] <hornedJack> [Flinch slightly at the sudden cold, swaying. Lean heavily one one arm. Your thoughts seem to be stuck, like a skipping record, caught up in a loop of 'ow fuck not again ow fuck not again-'.]
03[06:12] * Dove is now known as victorianaRegnant
06[06:14] * victorianaRegnant PESTERs etherealParagon : ( Not busy, no. Where are you? )
04[06:15] <Reue> * etherealParagon PESTERs victorianaRegnant : (My spire. Sixty third floor.)
06[06:19] * victorianaRegnant PESTERs etherealParagon : ( On my way. Tell Calix that. )
[06:21] <hornedJack> [It's unpleasantly cold, having the icepack pressing against your horns, even through the cloth, but you're now actually incapable, for the time being, of forming words to protest this.]
04[06:21] <Reue> ["Bethany is on her way." Hopefully she won't be long.]
[06:22] <hornedJack> [Another heavy nod, head trying to turn away from the icepack.]
04[06:23] <Reue> [Atleast he's aware of the world. You ease the icepack off so it's not pressed as tightly. You still want to keep whatever injury cool.]
[06:31] <victorianaRegnant> [You PM this on the fly, already running for the Gate that'll take you to Reue's Spire and then barrelling up stairs till you reach the right floor. You haven't even bothered switching out of the pajamas you were wearing while you were relaxing. You are wearing your Face, so you're not /naked/ - there's that much, at least.]
[06:39] <hornedJack> [You just sit there, breathing a little raggedly. Try opening your eyes at some point- and then decide that keeping them closed is better. It's far too bright and light in this room.]