let's burn it up

[bodyreads]

Who: Cassandra Cain (bodyreads), anyone working or volunteering at the dojo, and anyone wanting lessons.
When: March 12th-17th.
Where: Kurogane's dojo in Sector 4, Infinity.
Summary: Practice makes perfect! Cass needs some more people to work when she can't and so she's willing to hire anyone she can run a good Batbackground check on.
Warnings: Potential violence and possible cursing!


[The dojo was a fairly small place, perfect for small classes and extensive one-on-one training, and brightly colored in red, black, and white. There were wooden weapons lining one corner of the business, a few nunchakus and swords, and shield targets that were used for practice and training. A punching bag was in the opposite corner for further use. In the front of the shop was a side office and in the back was the changing room.

Cass might be seen here and there, but she also seems to disappear at random intervals only to reappear again as if she'd been standing there all along. Maybe she's just that good. Maybe she's found out what her Core-given power is. In either case, she's free for lessons and any questions, but there are plenty of instructors and tutors for anyone if they need them.


The schedule is as follows:
Monday - Friday: 10-5
Saturday: 11-5
Sunday: Closed]



[ooc: feel free to tag around and mingle!]

Comments

[fightswithpurpose]

I do, yes. I volunteered to teach swordsmanship.

[With a wink, she adds,]

That was a lesson in paying attention to your surroundings.

[doeswhathewants]

[With a huff he crosses his arms.]

No fair! I wasn't ready.

[fightswithpurpose]

[It's adorable enough that Nelliel can't help but be amused. Still, she resists the urge to pat him on the head and instead gently claps him on the side of the arm.]

With training and practice, you will always be ready.

[She motions to the assortment of weapons.]

If you want a lesson in using a sword, go ahead and pick one from the bunch and we can start.

[doeswhathewants]

I remember a few basics with the sword, so be careful! [He's grinning because he's not particularly good at those basics.

Loki picks up a two handed sword, he's far stronger than a human, but he holds it awkwardly, not used to being this size again and his inexperience with the weapon is showing even now.]

This one! It looks heroic enough, do you not think?

[fightswithpurpose]

[Oh, Loki. You are kind of precious. Nelliel smiles fondly at him before starting in on the real lesson.]

How heroic it is depends on you, but it does look rather dashing.

[She motions to his feet first.]

Your stance is too narrow for a blade that size. Move your feet a little further apart and bend your knees slightly. Balance is important and if your stance is insecure, it will be easy to knock you over.

[doeswhathewants]

[He grins at her compliment, then readjusts his stance]

All right how about this? [Bending his knees a bit, he holds the blade a bit more naturally]

[fightswithpurpose]

Better.

[She makes some minor adjustments to his stance, nudging lightly here and there.]

How about you show me what you know first, and I can determine what you need to learn from there.

[She draws her own sword.]

I will only defend for now.

[doeswhathewants]

Okay, Nell. But be careful! [And then he launches himself at her. He isn't very good, or terribly skilled, the fundamentals are there at his thrust and guard, but everything else is almost pulled from movies.

But he is strong, far stronger than even a full grown mortal man, there is a weight behind his sword and to his body, solid.]

[fightswithpurpose]

I thank you for the warning.

[Nelliel is accustomed to superhuman strength. While Loki's comes as somewhat of a surprise, she's able to adjust easily enough and fights with her sword in one hand. She does notice that he does have a rudimentary knowledge, which is good. If he stops trying to be flashy and develops technique, there is potential. She's glad to help him bring it out.

She dodges and parries, and side-steps. She wants to gauge his footwork, to see if he's taken her advice about maintaining balance to heart. She'll gradually increase her speed.]

[doeswhathewants]

[He's light on his feet and does take care of his balance, of his footwork, adjusting, learning as he goes.

As Nell increases her pace, he's falling behind in trying to keep up with her, trying to anticipate what she'll do by her eyes, by the movements of her upper body. But he's simply not practiced enough, not knowledgeable enough]

You are</> good-[He says in wonder of her ability]

[fightswithpurpose]

I have a lot of battle experience.

[It's not boastful, but rather a statement of fact. She notices that Loki is adapting very quickly, and comments on it approvingly.]

Your are doing well so far - especially with your footwork.

[doeswhathewants]

Ah- thank you! [He fairly beams at her, not really used to praise.]

How many battles have you been in?

[fightswithpurpose]

I never bothered to count. Most of the life that I can remember was spent fighting.

[She darts to the side, forcing Loki to adapt in this exercise.]

There was one who wanted me to fight him to the death and would challenge me daily...but I have never killed for the sake of doing so.

[doeswhathewants]

[He pivots and closes his stance in doing so, then corrects himself and attempts another strike at her]

What happened to him?

[fightswithpurpose]

[This time she raises her sword to block instead of side-stepping, nodding her approval at how quickly he's learning.]

He eventually found an opponent who would kill him.

[doeswhathewants]

[He was surprised at her strength when she held his block, scolding himself internally that he ought to have known, then attempted to fake a thrust and go over the tip of her own blade with his own to land a tap]

So... really he just wanted to die but not to end it himself? Reasonable.

[fightswithpurpose]

[Nelliel is mildly surprised by the tap, but they're not trying to harm one another and this is giving her an idea of where Loki excels and where he needs improvement.]

Reasonable is not a word I would have used to describe himm. But then, he hated me for showing him mercy and for saving his life. ...and for being a woman who ranked above him.

[She brings her blade up, putting just enough force against Loki's that if he's not mindful of his footing he might be knocked over onto his behind. She wants to see if the lesson about balance stuck.]

[doeswhathewants]

[And Loki is knocked back, though he doesn't fall, just stumbles, but recovers a few paces.]

Ah- there are many such as those back home- or were, when Lady Sif sought to become a warrior. Of course, now she is accepted. Though when a man wishes to follow a path other than warrior, he is not regarded as highly as she is.

[It's frustrating, in a way, to know, to remember how he once used to be able to fight, even if he preferred not to, and to be like this, new and untried again. He knows Nell is greatly holding back and if he weren't in the body of a thirteen year old, he would be embarrassed.]

[fightswithpurpose]

[Nelliel notes that - he will need to work on it, but it seems he didn't entirely forget what she told him earlier.]

Your culture prizes warriors, does it not? Some societies forget that there are different kinds of strength. Mine had that problem.

[doeswhathewants]

[And of course, he was getting more interested in the conversation than in what he was doing]

It does. Warriors and bravery above strategy and powers other than physical prowess. Which is stupid when the leader uses all.

[fightswithpurpose]

Then it's up to you to teach them a better way through example.

[Nelliel moves back and switches stances abruptly. She's testing his adaptability, here, but she's fairly certain he'll do well in that regard.]